FCC Grants Waivers for Specific FY2016 Invoices
The Wireline Competition Bureau released an ORDER granting a “limited wavier” of the Commission’s invoicing
rules to allow certain E-rate program applicants and service providers to
submit invoices beyond the 120-day extension already received and allowed by
the Commission’s rules.
Specifically, the Bureau waived the
invoice extension rule to provide “extraordinary” relief for applicants and
service providers that:
(a) timely requested and received the one-time 120-day
extension to invoice for funding year 2016 recurring charges from USAC; and
(b) are currently awaiting, or recently received, a revised
funding commitment decision letter (RFCDL) issued for a post-commitment change
request submitted to USAC (Affected Program Participants).
The Bureau directed USAC to allow Affected Program Participants to submit
invoices for their funding year 2016 recurring service charges on or before 120
days from the date of their post-commitment RFCDL. As a direct result of
system delays related to post-commitment changes (such as SPIN changes),
Affected Program Participants may not receive their RFCDLs in time to submit
accurate invoices by February 27, 2018 (today), the extended invoice deadline
for recurring services.
The Bureau
reiterated that it is it the responsibility of the E-rate participant to
anticipate any post-commitment change necessary to submit an invoice to USAC
and to request the one-time 120-day extension allowed under its rules if those
requests will not be processed by the invoicing deadline.