To be eligible for E-rate Program discounts for special construction charges – whether for leased lit fiber, leased dark fiber, or a self-provisioned network – special construction must be completed in time for the fiber to be lit (or for a self-provisioned network involving another technology to be in use) by the end of the relevant funding year (i.e., June 30, 2018 for FY2017). If this June 30 deadline is not met and the applicant has not received an extension, the special construction charges will not be eligible for support under program rules.
Extension Requests
In the Second E-rate Modernization Order (FCC 14-189, released December 19, 2014), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allowed applicants seeking support for special construction related to leased dark fiber and self-provisioned networks to request a one-year extension of the June 30 deadline by demonstrating that construction was unavoidably delayed due to weather or other reasons. Applicants seeking support for special construction related to leased dark fiber or self-provisioned networks may obtain this one-year extension by demonstrating to USAC that the late issuance of an FCDL (or non-issuance of an FCDL) has unavoidably delayed special construction in a manner that prevents the fiber from being lit (or a self-provisioned network using another technology to be in use) by the June 30 deadline.
Applicants who sought support for special construction charges related to leased lit fiber may also request a one-year extension on this basis if the applicants requested support for the special construction charges in a funding request that is separate and distinct from the leased lit fiber recurring charges.
Please note: This extension is only available for projects involving distinct special construction funding requests. Applicants seeking support only for recurring charges associated with fiber services must light the associated fiber by the end of the funding year (June 30) and may not seek an extension based on unavoidably delayed construction.
Reasons for Requesting an Extension of the June 30 Deadline
In order for USAC to evaluate your extension request, please include the reason you need an extension. Be prepared to state one of the following in your request:
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USAC issued your FCDL after February 2018 and special construction did not begin until you received the FCDL;
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USAC has not yet issued your FCDL and special construction has not yet begun;
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USAC has not yet issued your FCDL and you opted to commence special construction, but that work began after February 2018; or
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A detailed explanation of why construction for your project has been unavoidably delayed and the June 30 deadline to light the fiber cannot be met despite receiving an FCDL and/or commencing special construction in February 2018 or earlier. Relevant details include the date that you received your FCDL (or statement that the FCDL has not been received yet), the date that you started special construction, the breadth and complexity of the fiber build project, and any other factors relevant to your particular circumstances (e.g., weather, terrain) that caused the delay.
This request must be certified and submitted to USAC by the June 30, 2018 deadline.
If the extension request is granted, the new deadline to complete special construction and light the fiber or use the network for the FY2017 special construction funding request will be June 30, 2019.
Filing options
To request a one-year extension of the FY2017 deadline to complete special construction and light the fiber or use the network (June 30, 2018), follow the applicable instructions provided below. If you need assistance, contact CSB the Client Service Bureau at 888-203-8100.
Option 1: If you have already received an FCDL approving the funding request for your FY2017 special construction project
If you have already received an FCDL, you must submit your extension request by completing an FCC Form 500.
To complete and certify your request:
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On the first page of the FCC Form 500, be sure to click the "Yes" button under the option "I want to request more time to get the services delivered and installed." You must also choose "Yes" or "No" for the other five changes you can make on the form before you can continue to the next page.
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When you complete the Service Delivery Extension section of the form, be sure to select ALL of the FRNs to which the request applies.
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Choose "Yes" to respond to the statement "Was the service provider unable to complete delivery and installation for reasons beyond their control?" The answer to the following question will automatically change to "No."
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You MUST provide an explanation of the unavoidable delay. Your explanation should be consistent with the reason in one of the bullet points under "Reasons for Requesting an Extension of the June 30 Deadline" above.
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After you have completed all of the entries on your form, certify the form.
Option 2: If you have not received an FCDL for your FY2017 special construction project
If you have not yet received an FCDL, you must submit your extension request by completing and sending a Special Construction Deadline Extension Request (SCDER).
1. Prepare your request.
The worksheet contains three tabs – General Details, Service Delivery Extension, and Certification Details. The database fields that must be completed are highlighted in yellow. If you have more than one Funding Request Number (FRN), please complete a separate worksheet for each FRN.
On the General Details tab, complete the following fields:
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The Billed Entity Name.
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Your name (the person completing the worksheet) and the date and time.
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The FCC Form 471 application number and nickname.
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Enter "Yes" for the Service Delivery Extension Request and provide an explanation of the reason(s) you are requesting the extension.
On the Service Delivery Extension tab, complete the following fields:
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The FRN and the FRN nickname.
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The Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) and service provider name.
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Answer the two service provider questions with "yes" or "no" as appropriate. If these questions do not pertain to the reason you are requesting a service delivery extension or if you wish to add additional information, use the narrative field below the questions to provide new or additional information. Your explanation in the narrative field should be consistent with the reason in one of the bullet points under "Reasons for Requesting an Extension of the June 30 Deadline" above.
On the Certification Details tab, complete the following fields:
- The name of the person who is certifying the form.
- The date the form is being certified.
- The title, employer, phone number, email address, and mailing address of the person certifying the form.
- Check the three certifications.
2. Open a customer service case in EPC.
Please reference the April 21, 2017 SL News Brief for instructions on how to submit your SCDER for your FRN(s) that are pending a decision from USAC by opening a customer service case in EPC.