Rural Health Care Outreach
Conference Call Minutes
November 10, 2004

RHCD restated that Funding Commitment Decision Letters continue to be temporarily suspended. RHCD believes this issue will be resolved in November. RHCD also reiterated the need for all applicants, including consultants working on behalf of applicants, to obtain an FCC Registration Number. To obtain this number, please visit the FCC website or follow this 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 mentioned that the FCC’s Final Rule on the definition of rural and other issues may be on the Commission’s December meeting agenda. The date of the Final Rule will determine the opening date of the application window for FY2005. It will take about 90 days from the Final Rule to window opening in order to revise forms and the website. RHCD should know more about the window opening in December and will communicate any changes as they become known. RHCD staff also urged callers to submit FY2003 Form 467s so RHCD can complete payments which are not affected by the hold on new Funding Commitments.