May 2002 Announcements

Please click on the topic below to view the most recent announcements:

The SLD's information request process calls for a timely response from applicants to our requests for additional or clarifying information and/or documentation about their forms. This process is described in the document Deadline for Information Requests posted in the Reference Area of this web site.

We know that most schools and some libraries close or reduce service hours during the summer months. Therefore, during the summer period from Friday, May 24, 2002 through Friday, September 6, 2002, we 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 who can provide the necessary information are unavailable - we will send a fax to the contact person notifying them that the affected form(s) cannot be processed, and a Funding Commitment Decision Letter cannot be issued, until the additional information is received.

After September 6, the SLD will again attempt to contact applicants who were not successfully contacted during the summer period, using the applicant's preferred mode of contact. The SLD will then complete the information request process described in the Deadline for Information Requests

 

Top of Page Funding Year 2002 FCDLs May Incorrectly Indicate Internal Connections Being Denied Below 90% (5/22/02)

In Funding Year 2002 waves, applicants and service providers may see the following message on Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDLs) under "Funding Commitment Decision Explanation" for some Internal Connections Funding Requests:

"Funding cap will not provide for Internal Connections less than 90% discount to be funded. Please see www.sl.universalservice.org for further details."

This message is currently incorrect. The SLD has not yet determined whether funds will be available for requests for Internal Connections with approved discount percentages between 80% and 89%. No denials for such requests will be issued in the first wave(s) of Funding Year 2002 commitments. At this time SLD has, however, determined that funds will NOT be available for requests for Internal Connections with approved discount percentages below 80%.

As more applications complete the review process, we may determine that funds will not be sufficient for Internal Connections requests with approved discount percentages below 90%. At that time, we would issue such denials and post a notice to that effect on the web site.

The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2002 in observance of Memorial Day. The Client Service Bureau will resume normal operations on Tuesday, May 28, 2002 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.

Top of Page Funding Year 2002 Forms 471 No Longer Accepted (5/13/02)

The SLD has determined that sufficient funds will not be available for out-of-window Funding Year 2002 (Year 5) applications. Funding requests submitted on Form 471 applications received or postmarked after January 17, 2002 are considered out-of-window.

Therefore, we have removed Funding Year 2002 as an option from the drop-down box for the online Form 471. We will continue to mail an out-of window postcard notification to any applicant who files a manual Form 471 for Funding Year 2002 outside the Form 471 application filing window.