Deadline for Information Requests

The SLD is committed to doing all we can to issue timely Funding Commitment Decision Letters for Funding Year 2002. An important factor in our ability to meet that goal is the efficient processing of more than 36,000 FCC Form 471 applications that were received or postmarked within the application filing window. Reviews of those applications must be assigned and completed promptly and accurately for us to finish processing those applications and issue funding decisions.

We are providing you with a summary of our information request process so that you are aware of the need for a timely response to our requests as outlined below. These requests for additional or clarifying information and/or documentation may be about your FCC Form 471 or any other form.

First, the SLD will attempt to make a successful contact with you using the preferred mode of contact indicated on your form unless the preferred mode of contact is mail. In that case, you will be contacted by telephone.

The following are considered successful contacts:

A live telephone conversation with the contact person or other person designated by the contact person;
A voice mail message left at the contact person’s telephone number;
A fax sent to the contact person’s fax number with confirmation of successful transmission; or
An e-mail message sent to the contact person’s e-mail address without a return message of unsuccessful transmission.

SPECIAL NOTE: The SLD recognizes that many of our applicants are unavailable during certain periods due to extended holiday and break schedules. Following are the periods we recognize and how we will implement these deadlines during those periods.

The summer period extends from the Friday before Memorial Day through the Friday following Labor Day.
The winter period extends from the Friday before Christmas Day through the Friday following New Year's Day.

During these periods, the SLD will enforce deadlines for receipt of information only after we make a successful two-way contact with the applicant's contact person or other person designated by the contact person. We will attempt to make this two-way contact both by the preferred mode of contact and by telephone. If we are unable to make a successful two-way contact during this period - or if appropriate staff that can provide the necessary information are unavailable - the SLD will send a fax to the contact person notifying them that the affected form(s) cannot be processed, and appropriate decision letter(s) cannot be issued, until the additional information is received.

If the first attempt to contact you is successful, the SLD will follow up with a confirmation. If a successful contact is not made, a second attempt will be made within three business days. If the first attempt to contact you reveals that you are unavailable until a specified date, the SLD will attempt to contact you after the specified date.

You must respond fully to the request and forward all requested documentation to the SLD within seven calendar days after the date of the follow-up confirmation.

If the SLD is unable to contact you as described above, or if the SLD receives an incomplete response from you within seven calendar days, the SLD will send a follow-up fax. You must respond fully to that request and forward all requested documentation to the SLD within seven calendar days after the date that the follow-up fax is sent.

If the SLD is unable to make a successful contact, we will use the information available to attempt to make a successful contact with someone else in your organization. If a successful contact is made, the response timelines described above will apply.

If the SLD does not receive a complete response within the time period set for you to respond, the SLD will attempt to process as much of the form as possible with the information we have. The action taken by the SLD may include rejection or denial of individual Funding Requests or of the entire form.

Content Last Modified: December 2, 2002