Useful interpretations of E-rate program rules are often provided in FCC orders resulting from applicant appeals of SLD funding decisions.
Key FCC appeal decisions, organized by topic, are provided in the table below. A full list, organized by release date, is available on the FCC Web site.
| FCC Reference |
Subject |
Summary |
Issue Date |
| DA 00-1887 |
CSB Errors. Application filed based on erroneous information from SLD's Client Service Bureau |
Rules and policies will be enforced, even when a party has received erroneous advice from a government employee (one of many). |
8/18/2000 |
| DA 00-1889 |
Appeal Deadline. Deadline date is a holiday |
Filing deadline is next business day |
8/18/2000 |
| DA 00-19 |
471: Lost Application. No documentation for mailed application |
Applicant made no showing that 471 had been timely filed. |
1/6/2000 |
| DA 00-2403 |
471: Signature Date. Signed (but not submitted) before Allowable Contract Date |
Indicates that applicant did wait the required period before selecting vendor. FRNs denied. |
10/25/2000 |
| DA 00-2630 |
Eligibility: Residential Facilities. Eligibility of wiring and equipment for residential dormitory buildings |
Dorms, even with study centers, are traditional classrooms or computer learning centers: Ineligible. |
11/21/2000 |
| DA 01-1620 |
Consortiums: Letters of Agency. SLD dismissal of an entire 471 application for lack of LOAs from a few members |
Letter of Agency requirement is valid. Funding should not be denied for consortium members that did provide Letters of Agency. |
7/10/2001 |
| DA 01-1980 |
Eligibility: Bundled Internet. Ineligibility of content bundled with Internet access |
A bundled package is eligible only if: (1) content is minimal; and (2) package is most cost-effective solution. |
8/24/2001 |
| DA 01-1980 |
Eligibility: Network Monitoring. Ineligibility of network monitoring services |
Network monitoring is not a telecom service and is not necessary for the transmission of information. |
8/24/2001 |
| DA 01-2401 |
Unreasonable Processing Delay. Late filing due to SLD processing delay |
A delay in processing a Form 470, causing an applicant to miss the Form 471 filing window, is grounds for waiver. |
10/16/2001 |
| DA 01-2457 |
Basic Telephone Service. Centrex service |
Basic telephone service includes only POTS and cellular/PCS services. Centrex does not qualify as a basic service. |
10/23/2001 |
| DA 01-2536 |
Signatures. Lack of original signature on applicant forms |
Photocopied signature is a binding act (under Uniform Commercial Code). Form can be signed on behalf of another by an authorized signer. |
11/2/2001 |
| DA 01-387 |
Service Change. Change in previously funded components or types of services |
FCC adopts new rules for permissible service changes. |
2/13/2001 |
| DA 01-506 |
Appeal Process. Amendment of application after denial |
Applicant cannot amend application upon appeal after funding has already been denied. |
3/7/2001 |
| DA 01-586 |
Eligibility: Cellular/PCS Users. Ineligibility of cellular and PCS service for non-educational purposes |
Resource officers, crisis team, computer center, grounds/maintenance, food service, and warehouse employees not eligible. |
3/6/2001 |
| DA 01-853 |
471: Dismissal for inadequate resources (Item 25 reviews). SLD dismissal of entire 471 applications |
Upholds SLD's Item 25 review process requiring showing of necessary resources by individual applicants or consortiums. |
4/5/2001 |
| DA 01-855 |
471: Dismissal for inadequate resources (Item 25 reviews). SLD dismissal of entire 471 applications |
Upholds SLD's Item 25 review process requiring showing of necessary resources by individual applicants or consortiums. |
4/9/2001 |
| DA 02-1464 |
Extension of time for utilizing non-recurring services funding. Request not covered by automatic extension criteria |
Only FCC, not SLD, can waive extension rules if consistent with public interest |
6/21/2002 |
| DA 02-1784 |
471: Dismissal for other errors. SLD dismissal of entire 471 applications |
Upholds SLD denials for missing information in Items 4, 10, 11, 22, or 23 |
8/6/2002 |
| DA 02-1971 |
Appeal Process. Re-appeal of FCC bureau decision to full Commission |
Petitions for Reconsideration allowed under certain conditions. Cannot be used to redebate issues already resolved. |
8/9/2002 |
| DA 02-2566 |
Installation or Non-recurring deadline. Waiver request for deadline extension |
Approved based on scope of project and late funding |
10/8/2002 |