FCC Halts Certain Post-Commitment Changes for ECF Program

On May 31, 2024, the FCC announced that it was directing USAC to stop making any new commitments from ECF funding until it has returned $1.768 billion to the U.S. Treasury (see page 42). 

The government funding bill passed in March 2024 rescinds $1.768 billion from the ECF program. This means that Congress has canceled part of the Commission’s budget authority for the ECF program as a measure to reduce government spending.

The FCC and USAC will not be processing post-commitment requests to change service providers or invoicing methods, will not approve a commitment if an appeal or waiver is granted, and will not increase commitments to resolve errors. 

The following types of post-commitment requests will continue to be processed (as long as there is no increase in the committed amount) because they do not change the recorded obligation: service start and end dates; unique entity identifier (UEI) and taxpayer identification number (TIN) changes; service/equipment substitutions; commitment reductions and cancellations, and recovery of funds.   

The FCC encouraged applicants to submit invoices as soon as possible.  Applicants can also relinquish committed funding if they do not plan to use it.  USAC also issued a newsletter with further details about the halt in funding.