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Timestamp: 2013-05-19 09:55:35
Document Index: 551836589

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 54', '§ 1', '§ 54', '§ 151', '§ 0', '§ 151', '§ 0', '§ 54']

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DA 12-2049
File Nos. SLD-745019, et al.
Bastrop, Texas, et al.
Consistent with precedent,1 we grant five requests from petitioners2 seeking review of decisions made by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the E-rate program (more formally known as the schools and libraries universal service support program).3 In each case, USAC reduced funding because it found that the applicant failed to timely submit its FCC Form 486. Based on the facts and circumstances of these specific cases, we find that rigid adherence to USAC’s procedural deadline is not in the public interest in these cases and we therefore grant these appeals. On our own motion, we also waive section 54.507(d) of the Commission’s rules, and direct USAC to waive any procedural deadlines, such as the invoicing deadline, that might be necessary to effectuate our ruling.4 1 See Requests for Review of the Decision of the Universal Service Administrator by Alaska Gateway School District, Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism, File Nos. SLD-412028, et al., CC Docket No. 02-6, Order, 21 FCC Rcd 10182 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2006) (granting 128 appeals after finding good cause to waive the deadline for filing FCC Form 486). See also Requests for Waiver and Review of the Decisions of the Universal Service Administrator by Annette Island School District, et al., Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism, File Nos. SLD-746414, et al., CC Docket No. 02-6, Order, 27 FCC Rcd 13114 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2012) (granting 14 appeals after finding good cause to waive the deadline for filing FCC Form 486). 2 The requests for review are listed in the Appendix. 3 Section 54.719(c) of the Commission’s rules provides that any person aggrieved by an action taken by a division of USAC may seek review from the Commission. 47 C.F.R. § 54.719(c).
4Generally, the Commission’s rules may be waived if good cause is shown. 47 C.F.R. § 1.3. The Commission may exercise its discretion to waive a rule where the particular facts make strict compliance inconsistent with the public interest. Northeast Cellular Telephone Co. v. FCC, 897 F.2d 1164, 1166 (D.C. Cir. 1990) (Northeast Cellular). In addition, the Commission may take into account considerations of hardship, equity, or more effective implementation of overall policy on an individual basis. WAIT Radio v. FCC, 418 F.2d 1153, 1159 (D.C. Cir. 1969); Northeast Cellular, 897 F.2d at 1166. 47 C.F.R. § 54.507(d) (requiring non-recurring services to be implemented by September 30 following the close of the funding year). Federal Communications Commission
We find good cause to waive section 54.507(d) because filing an appeal of a denial of funding is likely to cause petitioners to miss the program’s subsequent procedural deadlines in that funding year. 2.
We therefore remand the applications listed in the Appendix to USAC for further action consistent with this order. To ensure that those applications are resolved expeditiously, we direct USAC to complete its review of each application listed in the Appendix, and issue a funding commitment or denial based on a complete review and analysis, no later than 90 calendar days from the release date of this order. In remanding these applications to USAC, we make no finding as to the ultimate eligibility of the services or as to the petitioners’ applications. 3.
ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to the authority contained in sections 1-4 and 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 151-154 and 254, and sections 0.91, 0.291, 1.3 and 54.722(a) of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.91, 0.291, 1.3 and 54.722(a), that the requests for review or requests for waiver listed in the Appendix ARE GRANTED and those applications ARE REMANDED to USAC for further consideration in accordance with the terms of this order.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to the authority contained in sections 1-4 and 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 151-154 and 254, and sections 0.91, 0.291, 1.3 and 54.722(a) of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.91, 0.291, 1.3 and 54.722(a), that section 54.507(d) of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 54.507(d), ARE WAIVED for the petitioners listed in the Appendix to the limited extent provided herein.
Review/Waiver Filed Bastrop Independent School District
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