Rural Health Care Outreach Conference Call Minutes
January 10, 2002

FUNDING YEAR FIVE WINDOW OPENING, E-CERTIFICATION AVAILABLE

The window for Funding Year 5 opens on Monday, January 28, 2002. RHCD will begin accepting FCC Form 465s for posting to the RHCD website on that date. Applicants are urged to submit their Form 465s as soon as possible in order to meet program posting requirements. In accordance with suggestions from applicants and service providers, there have been no changes to this year's forms. RHCD sent an outreach mailing to all current and past applicants on January 2, 2002, reminding them to apply early and providing tips for applying. If you have questions about the Funding Year 5 application window opening, call our Customer Service Support Center at 1-800-229-5476.

Electronic certification is now available to eligible applicants. This process, which allows an applicant to submit Form 465 electronically for immediate posting, is open to applicants who received support in either Funding Year 3 or Funding Year 4 (or both). The first step in the process is to enable e-certification by visiting the new E-Certification area of the RHCD website. You must supply required information to prove your authority to sign for the HCP you represent. The second step in the process is filling out Form 465 and submitting it electronically. This step will become available on January 28.

FUNDING YEAR THREE CLOSE OUT INFORMATION

The final processing of Form 466/468 packets for Funding Year 3 is drawing to a close. Applicants are urged to submit FCC Form 467s as soon as possible, if they have not already done so. Approximately $500,000 in funding has been delayed because applicants to whom the money is committed have not submitted Form 467s. All Form 467s for Funding Year 3 are due by February 15, 2002.

As of January 10, 2002, $10.3 million in Funding Commitment Letters have been issued for Funding Year 3, with $7.8 million issued in support schedules. Reimbursed support, or the money reimbursed to service providers, currently totals $6 million for Funding Year 3.

FUNDING YEAR FOUR INFORMATION

For Funding Year 4, RHCD has received over 1,700 Forms 465s and over 400 Form 466/468 packets. Over $500K in Funding Commitments have been made to successful applicants and RHCD projects that $13.5M will be committed for Funding Year 4. Applicants are urged to send all packets for a consortia at the same time and to label them as belonging to a consortium. That will expedite processing and reduce application errors.

APPEALS OPTIONS EXPANDED

The FCC announced changes in the appeal filing procedures, which are effective upon publication in the Federal Register (January 24, 2002). The new procedures allow fax and e-mail submissions, and give 60 (rather than 30) days to file an appeal from the date of an RHCD decision. For more information on these changes, visit the Appeal Process area of the RHCD website.

PROGRAM YEAR SIX

RHCD is seeking applicant and service provider suggestions for changes to the application process, including forms, for Funding Year 6. To submit suggestions, call RHCD's Customer Service Support Center or submit them by e-mail.

Questions?
Call our toll free number 1-800-229-5476 8am-8pm (EST) Monday-Friday.