Rural Health Care Outreach Conference Call Minutes
August 14, 2003

Although there is no definite timetable, RHCD hopes that the FCC’s Order for the Rural Health Care Support Mechanism will be released by the end of 2003. With that in mind, RHCD estimates that the filing window for Funding Year 2004 Form 465 will probably open in the late first quarter of 2004.

The text of the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is available. Interested parties may continue to file ex parte comments (under “Proceeding,” enter “02-60”).

The deadline for submitting Funding Year 2002 (July 1, 2002 – June 30, 2003) Form 466/468 packets is October 8, 2003. Applicants who have not yet done so must send their forms and required documentation to RHCD by October 8th or their application will be denied. Packets postmarked after October 8 will not be accepted. RHCD estimates that about 300 to 400 packets have not yet been received. Applicants who have questions regarding the deadline are encouraged to call the RHCD help desk at 800-229-5476.

RHCD continues to receive Form 466 for Funding Year 2003 (July 1, 2003 – June 30, 2004). Please remember to include the following when submitting your form, as RHCD cannot process a Form 466 without them:

• Rural rate documentation, in the form of a bill, copy of the contract, or letter from the service provider
• Documentation of the urban rate, if not using those posted on USAC’s website

The September conference call will be held on September 11th at 2PM EST.

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