On October 1, 2019, the Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) and the Office of the Managing Director issued a Public Notice seeking comment on USAC’s “drop-down menu options for the FCC Form 470.” Indicating that the comments received will be used to develop menu options for Funding Year 2021 and beyond, the FCC hopes to “minimize the potential for applicant confusion, address concerns about the current FCC Form 470 drop-down menu options, and, to the extent practicable, to reduce administrative burdens on applicants and service providers.”
In the Public Notice, the FCC not only seeks comment on the menu options themselves, but also the criteria which should be used to develop those options. Proposed criteria include:
- Intuitive and Easy-to-Understand
- Technology Neutral and Adaptable
- Facilitate Compliance with the Rules
- Searchable
The Public Notice also includes for appendices outlining potential drop-down options for FY2021 and beyond, as well as Form 470 preparation flowcharts.
Comments are due on October 31, 2019, with reply comments by November 15. The Public Notice may be downloaded here.
