USACRural Health CareTelecommunications Program
Post-Commitment Actions

Post-Commitment Actions

There are a number of actions that may be required outside of the regular application process. The list below provides information on these actions.

SPIN Changes

FCC Order 19-78 formalized the process to request Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) changes in the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) and Telecommunications (Telecom) Programs. In certain situations, applicants can request a change of the SPIN. This number is also known as the service provider’s 498 ID. A SPIN change can be either corrective or operational. All SPIN changes must be requested by the service delivery deadline. For more information, please go to the  SPIN change webpage.

Service Substitutions

Service substitutions  allow the HCP to reallocate un-invoiced committed funds to substitute services, modify services, or upgrade services. Substitutions provide the flexibility for applicants to spend all of the committed funds, even though USAC-supported services may change over the course of the funding commitment. All SPIN changes must be requested by the service delivery deadline. For more information, please go to the  Site and Service Substitutions webpage.

Invoice Filing Deadline Extension

Per FCC Order 19-78 (§ 54.627 Invoicing process and certification (b)), applicants and service providers may request and automatically receive a one-time, 120-day extension of the deadline to file an invoice. Invoice filing deadline extension requests must be submitted on or before the original invoice deadline. The invoice filing deadline is included in the Funding Commitment Letter (FCL).

Decommitment of Funds

There are situations that occur post-commitment that require USAC to decommit approved funding for HCPs. Here are some examples:

  • The invoice filing deadline has passed and there are funds remaining due to denied or un-invoiced items. USAC will decommit any funds remaining 60 days after the invoice filing deadline has passed to place the funds back into the Universal Service Fund for use towards future funding years. No action from the applicant is required. To check your invoice filing deadline, please use the RHC Program Invoice Filing Deadline on the USAC website.
  • Applicants may request a full or partial decommitment of approved funding that has not been disbursed, to avoid duplicate funding on a subsequent funding request, to account for any early disconnect of services or site closures, and as a result of applicants no longer needing the remaining funds.
  • If during a review of a funding commitment (audits, appeals, whistleblower calls, etc.), USAC discovers that funds were committed in error, a Commitment Adjustment/Demand Letter (COMAD) is sent to both the applicant (HCP) and service provider. In these instances, COMADs can also result in a de-commitment of funds remaining.

Voluntary Return of Funds to USAC

Applicants may return funds that they feel might have been improperly disbursed. For example, USAC was not informed of an early site closure or services were disconnected early by their service provider. We encourage applicants and service providers to inform USAC of any early disconnection of services or site closures prior to submitting invoices to USAC. In the event applicants realize the services were disconnected and/or the site was closed after the funding for these services was disbursed, those funds should be returned voluntarily prior to USAC pursuing potential recoveries. For more information on returning funds to USAC, visit the Returning Program Funding  of the USAC website.

FCC Form 460 Revision

HCPs are required to notify the USAC within 30 days of a change in the HCP’s name, site location, contact information, or eligible entity type. In these cases, an FCC Form 460 revision must be submitted in RHC Connect.