Rural Health Care Outreach Conference Call Minutes
January 9, 2003

NPRM update: RHCD anticipates receiving an Order from the FCC during the second quarter 2003. However, RHCD plans to open the filing window for Funding Year 2003 Form 465s in late March, to implement other planned administrative changes and to ensure that applicants may timely file to receive support when the new Funding Year starts July 1, 2003. Any changes that may occur as a result of the Order will be implemented later during the Funding Year.

Among planned administrative changes, RHCD has submitted to the FCC its proposal for the elimination of Form 468 and consolidation of certain information into the Form 466. RHCD is also in the process of enabling Form 466 for electronic certification, as well as electronically pre-filling the form with previously submitted information for each applicant. In addition, to streamline form completion and support calculation, RHCD plans to post urban rates for applicants on its website. It is anticipated that these changes will be in place when the filing window opens in late March.

RHCD reminds service providers that when they receive an invoice from USAC, they should verify the Billing Account Number as well as the service start and end dates. In addition, the service provider must credit the applicant with support before USAC is invoiced for the amount.

Applicants who have received a Funding Commitment Letter should send back Form 467 as soon as possible. Since receiving an FCL means the applicant is qualified to request RHCD to enable them for electronic certification, applicants are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity for instant submission of Form 467. For Funding Year 2001, RHCD has received 458 electronically certified Form 467s.

The last 100 Funding Year 2001 Form 466/468 packets are currently being processed and RHCD has shifted its resources to processing packets for Funding Year 2002. As of January 3, 2003, 226 Funding Year 2002 packets have been processed by RHCD and 775 are in process. This represents less than 1/3 of the anticipated packets for the funding year. Applicants are urged to submit packets as soon as possible. RHCD will soon send a reminder notice to all applicants who have successfully posted a Form 465 but have not sent a packet. To date, over $4 million has been committed for Funding Year 2002. RHCD anticipates that over $21 million will be committed for the year, compared to $18.3 million that RHCD has committed for Funding Year 2001.

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