Hints & Tips

Evergreen Contracts:
Most applicants to the RHC program have contracts. Only those satisfying the program definition of a contract receive evergreen status (see Glossary of Terms: Evergreen Contracts). Applicants who submit documentation that does not meet these requirements are treated as month-to-month tariffed service and may not receive support prior to selection of the most cost-effective service after the required 28 day posting of Form 465 each fund year. Applicants with evergreen contracts need not post Form 465 during the life of that contract, but must post a Form 465 to add service, make cardinal changes, renew, or extend the contract (including optional extensions).

Urban Rates
Urban rates are provided for applicants to use as a “safe harbor” if they’ve had difficulty obtaining an urban rate on their own. The applicant is not required to use RHCs posted rates.

Not all service types are available on the RHC website. If the applicant obtains a rate from a telecommunications provider the document must meet the following guidelines:

1) Document must have carriers logo and the name of the service representative
2) Service type and bandwidth must be clearly listed (T-1 1.544, Frame Relay 128K etc.)
3) The term of the rate must be clearly stated (month to month, 24 month contract etc.)

Urban rates for contracts are available by calling the RHC Help Line at (800)229-5476.

Rural Rate Documentation
When submitting documentation for your rural rate, please be sure that the amount on your bill reflects what is on your Form 466. It is easy to copy the data from a previous year’s form to a current year, but often prices have changed. By double checking your rates you will help us process your form more quickly.

FCC Registration Numbers:
DATED: April 4, 2005

The Funding Year 2005 Forms require an FCC Registration Number for all applicants, bill payers and consultants retained to complete forms. No Fund Commitment Letters will be issued to applicants who have not provided the appropriate FCC Registration Numbers. An FCC Registration Number, or FCCRN, is a 10-digit number assigned to an entity or individual registering with the FCC which uniquely identifies the registrant in all transactions with the FCC.

For more information on FCC Registration Numbers, to apply for one online, or to request a paper application please visit the FCC’s website at www.fcc.gov and click on the link at the left of the page for FCC Registration Number (FRN) Commission Registration System (CORES). Registering online is the fastest way to obtain your FRN, which you will receive immediately after submitting your registration information.

Electronic Signatures:
DATED: April 4, 2005

You can file all forms electronically through e-certification, once you’ve successfully posted your initial Form 465. All you have to do is enable e-certification – your electronic signature. E-Certification is an added convenience -- eliminating the step of printing, signing and mailing. E-certing forms speeds up the application process by beginning the Form 465’s 28-day competitive bidding period immediately, and by eliminating the wait for all forms to arrive by mail at RHCD’s processing center. To e-certify, click on E-Certification under Quick Links. Login to your HCP Status page and locate your E-Certification status at the top of the page.

Remember: When you e-certify your forms you must reach the screen that shows a “Submit” button. Choosing “Save and Exit” does not submit your form to RHCD; “Save and Exit” saves the form as incomplete, so you can go back and edit it. Click on “Submit” and your form will be sent to RHCD immediately for processing.

For more information on E-Certification please visit our website at http://www.rhc.universalservice.org/onlineforms/aboutecert.asp or contact the Help Desk at (800) 229-5476

Internet or Telecommunications: Which should I select?
On the Form 465 in Block 5 (Request for Services) Line 30, the applicant is asked to select the service for which it wishes to receive reduced rates. There are three choices: Telecommunications Services, Internet Service and Both Telecommunications and Internet Services. RHCD recommends selecting “Both Telecommunications and Internet Services”. There is no harm to the applicant when making this selection. If the applicant decides not to pursue support for one or the other service, there is no liability. However, selecting either Telecommunications or Internet service limits the applicant to support for only the kind of service selected. Deciding after you have posted a Form 465, that you would like to change the type of service requested, requires re-posting and waiting another 28 days for bids. In summary, unless you are positive that you require only Internet or Telecommunications service, select “Both Telecommunications and Internet Services”.

28 Day Posting Period –
This competitive bidding period begins when Form 465 is posted on the RHCD web site. It is intended to give time for service providers to contact HCPs to discuss service needs and to submit proposals for those needs. However, HCPs may not sign a contract or enter into an agreement for services before the end of the 28-day posting period -- they must wait until day 29. HCPs that enter into an agreement before completion of the 28-day posting requirement are in violation of the FCC’s competitive bidding rules for this program, and may not receive support.