Step 6 Support Acknowledgment Letter

After receiving the FCC Form 467 (Connection Certification Form), USAC creates a Support Acknowledgment Letter, which is sent to the Project Coordinator and vendor. This letter provides a detailed report of the approved service(s) and support information.

Here is a sample Support Acknowledgment Letter.

Letter Contents

The HCP Support Acknowledgment Letter includes the following information:

• Funding year: 2007, 2008, etc.;
• Pilot project number (also known as a HCP Number): unique five-digit number assigned to each Pilot project;
• Funding request number (FRN): a unique five-digit code assigned by USAC for each Pilot project, vendor, and service combination;
• Billing account number: account code for a Pilot project credited with USF support;
• Pilot project name: name of project being supported;
• Pilot project address: address of the project being supported;
• Pilot project mailing organization and address if different than above;
• Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) - number issued by USAC to a vendor;
• Vendor name: name of vendor providing service or equipment to project;
• Service: type of service or equipment provided;
• Support start date: first date HCP can receive support based on the FCC Form 465 (Description of Services Requested and Certification Form);
• Support end date: last day service is eligible for support during the funding year;
• Support date: month and year for support amount;
• Support amount: support for the month ($); and
• Total: total support for the funding year ($).

This letter verifies that an FCC Form 467 has been received. The support is credited to the Billing Account Number shown on the Support Acknowledgment Letter.

What to Do Upon Receipt?

The Support Acknowledgment Letter will be sent to the Project Coordinator and vendor when the FCC Form 467 (Connection Certification Form) is processed by USAC.

Once the vendor receives the letter, it can bill the project for services completed. The entity that receives the bill and pays for the service is defined as the "billed entity."

USAC requests that vendors check the SPIN on the Support Acknowledgment Letter to make sure it is correct.

Participants should check that the service provided was actually working or installed and is being billed for the time period on the Support Acknowledgment Letter. Be sure that the Billing Account Number listed on the letter is the same Billing Account Number attached to the service and project coordinator location or project coordinator mailing organization and address. This ensures support is credited to the entity paying for the service.

If you are unsure whether the Billing Account Number is correct or if you find an error on the Support Acknowledgment Letter, please contact the Rural Health Care Pilot Program at (800) 229-5476 and do not start applying program discounts.