*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 4708.doc* Federal Communications Commission DA 00- 2500 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, DC 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Request for Review of the ) Decision of the ) Universal Service Administrator by ) ) Douglas Public Library ) File No. SLD- 107634 Douglas, Arizona ) ) Federal- State Joint Board on ) CC Docket No. 96- 45 Universal Service ) ) Changes to the Board of Directors of the ) CC Docket No. 97- 21 National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc. ) ORDER Adopted: November 7, 2000 Released: November 8, 2000 By the Accounting Policy Division, Common Carrier Bureau: 1. The Accounting Policy Division has under consideration a Letter of Appeal filed by Douglas Public Library (Douglas), Douglas, Arizona, seeking review of a decision issued by the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC or Administrator). 1 Douglas seeks review of SLD’s refusal to consider Douglas’ appeal to SLD on the grounds that it was untimely filed. For the reasons set forth below, we deny Douglas’ appeal. 2. SLD issued a Funding Commitment Decision Letter on February 24, 1999, denying Douglas’ request for discounted services under the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism. 2 Specifically, SLD denied Douglas’ request for discounts for dedicated services, internet access, and internal connections. On April 22, 1999, Douglas filed an appeal of SLD’s decision to deny funding. 3 On June 22, 1999, SLD issued an Administrator's Decision on Appeal indicating that it would not consider Douglas’ appeal because it was 1 Letter from Glenda Bavier, Douglas Public Library, to Federal Communications Commission, filed July 21, 1999 (Letter of Appeal). 2 Letter from Schools and Libraries Division, Universal Service Administrative Company, to Jule C. Devoe, Douglas Public Library, dated February 24, 1999 (Funding Commitment Decision Letter). 3 Letter from Glenda Bavier, Douglas Public Library, to Schools and Libraries Division, Universal Service Administrative Company, filed April 22, 1999. 1 Federal Communications Commission DA 00- 2500 2 received more than 30 days after the Funding Commitment Decision Letter was issued. 4 Douglas subsequently filed the instant Letter of Appeal with the Commission. 3. Under section 54.720 of the Commission’s rules, an appeal must be filed with the Commission or SLD within 30 days of the issuance of the decision as to which review is sought. 5 Documents are considered to be filed with the Commission or SLD only upon receipt. 6 The 30- day deadline contained in section 54.720 of the Commission’s rules applies to all requests for review filed by a party affected by a decision issued by the Administrator. Because Douglas failed to file an appeal of the February 24, 1999 Funding Commitment Decision Letter within the requisite 30- day appeal period, we affirm SLD’s decision to dismiss Douglas’ appeal to SLD as untimely and deny the instant Letter of Appeal. 4. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to authority delegated under sections 0.91, 0.291, and 54.722( a) of the Commission's rules, 47 C. F. R. §§ 0. 91, 0.291, and 54.722( a), that the Letter of Appeal filed by Douglas Public Library, Douglas, Arizona on July 21, 1999, IS DENIED. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Mark G. Seifert Deputy Chief, Accounting Policy Division Common Carrier Bureau 4 Letter from Schools and Libraries Division, Universal Service Administrative Company, to Jule C. Devoe, Douglas Public Library, dated June 22, 1999 (Administrator’s Decision on Appeal). 5 47 C. F. R. § 54. 720. 6 47 C. F. R. § 1.7. 2