Rural Health Care Outreach
Conference Call Minutes
October 7, 2004

RHCD restated that Funding Commitment Decision Letters continue to be temporarily suspended, while USAC moves to government accounting standards. RHCD continues to process applications and expects this matter to be resolved in late November.

For Funding Year 2005, all applicants, including consultants working on behalf of applicants, must obtain an FCC Registration Number. The process is simple and quick. Please visit the FCC website or follow the link. The left bar on the FCC home page contains a link to obtain a registration number. RHCD encourages applicants to obtain this number early, as it will be required for Funding Year 2005.

RHCD staff provided an explanation of the “Red Light Rule”. This FCC rule is to prevent parties with a debt owed to the FCC from obtaining Universal Service support. If an applicant, service provider, or consultant that works on behalf of an applicant is “red-lighted” by the FCC, all pending applications associated with that entity will be dismissed after a 30 day notice and disbursements associated with that entity will be placed on hold. Once the debt is resolved, the red-light will be lifted. RHCD will provide further information on this subject on its website in the near future. The “Red Light Rule” will begin for applicants with the opening of the 2005 Funding Year window, and on November 1, 2004 for disbursements.

RHCD stated that many Form 467s for FY 2003 are still outstanding and that the last invoices for FY2002 are being processed.