Funding Commitment Decision Letters

Topic Page Funding Commitment Decision Letter Process 3 Generating FCDL Notifications 5 Viewing FCDLs 11 Next Steps 20

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Prior to FY2016, applicants received a printed, snail mailed Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) color coded to the particular funding year. For FY2016, applicants will collect their Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) inside the EPC portal. The main contact listed on any given Form 471 application will receive an email notifying him or her that an FCDL has been issued for a specific application. If the organization filed multiple FCC Forms 471 and more than one is included in the same wave, the contact person will receive an email for each form. The contact person will follow a link in the email, log into EPC, and generate and view the FCDL.

Generating FCDL Notifications NOTE: Any full rights or partial rights user can generate an FCDL Notification if they happen to see the notification prompt in EPC before the contact person has generated it.

Generating FCDL Notifications ① In the Notifications section of the organization’s landing page, use the “Notification Type” drop down menu to select “FCDL” ② Then use the “Funding Year” drop down menu to select “2016”

Generating FCDL Notifications A list of FCDL Notifications for FY2016 will display (both Generated and Not Generated) NOTE: You do not need to know or enter the Wave Number, but you can select a value if you wish to narrow the resulting list of FCDLs

Generating FCDL Notifications You may want to filter the “Status” to “Not Generated” if you have a lengthy list of FCDLs

③ Click on the “Generate Notification” link in the right-most column of an FCDL to generate its notification

④ That FCDL will now display a “View Notification” link in its right-most column NOTE: If you filtered the “Status” to “Not Generated” you will need to change the filter to “All” or “Generated” in order to see the newly generated notification

Viewing FCDLs

Viewing FCDLs ① Any user can click on a “View Notification” link to be taken to the FCDL in the organization’s News tab

Viewing FCDLs In the News tab, applicants will see the short text announcement of the FCDL, three attachments, and a summary of pertinent FCDL details: The short text of the FCDL The text explains the FCDL and provides information about the included attachments. Paragraph 2 identifies the following specifics: Form 471 Application Number Billed Entity Number FCDL date

Viewing FCDLs B. An FCDL supplement (the text link next to the picture of a document) The document contains related program information – for example, how to appeal a funding decision and the obligation to pay the non-discount portion of the cost of the services. Note that the identical document will be attached to all FCDLs for FY2016.

Viewing FCDLs C. A link to a *.CSV file (the text link next to the paperclip icon) The file contains a simple table of the data about the commitment – the approved discount rate, whether or not the FRN was approved, the FCDL comment, and so on – that in the past would have been in the funding commitment report in the paper version of the FCDL. This table will have one FRN per row and will include all FRNs that were listed on the FCC Form 471. This file can be opened with any spreadsheet program.  THIS IS YOUR FCDL 

Viewing FCDLs D. A link to the Form 471 (the name of the Form 471 in the blue bubble)

Viewing FCDLs E. FCDL details This information is a summary of the Form 471 funded amount. Details include:

Viewing FCDLs ② Click on the text link next to the paperclip icon to download the FCDL

Viewing FCDLs The *.CSV file will open in the default spreadsheet program on your computer ③ Expand all of the columns to view the entire contents of the file Column C will show whether the FRN was funded, reduced, denied or cancelled Column S will show the amount committed Column T will provide an explanation if the FRN was reduced or denied ④ Pay close attention to the total committed amount to make sure you were awarded the committed amount you were expecting – compare the amount to the amount requested on the Form 471 ⑤ Review any reasons indicated for funding reductions

Next Steps

What do I do with the FCDL? Carefully review the FCDL for details on whether a request was approved or denied, and any adjustments that might have been made to the original request. If you disagree with a funding commitment decision, an appeal letter MUST be received by USAC within 60 days of the date of the decision letter.

What do I do next? Make a note of the date of FCDL so you are aware of the deadline for filing a Form 486. You will have 120 days after the date of your FDCL or the start of services (whichever is later) to complete the Form 486 without penalty. NOTE: you cannot file a Form 486 for a new funding year before receiving a FCDL

What do I save for my files?  Save all records for at least 10 years from the last date of service  A copy of the FCDL *.CSV file