*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 4697.doc* Federal Communications Commission DA 00- 2511 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, DC 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Request for Review of the ) Decision of the ) Universal Service Administrator by ) ) Southwick- Tolland Regional School District ) File No. SLD- 186869 Southwick, Massachusetts ) ) 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 Southwick- Tolland Regional School District (Southwick- Tolland), Southwick, Massachusetts, seeking review of a decision issued by the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC or Administrator). 1 Southwick-Tolland seeks review of SLD’s refusal to consider Southwick- Tolland’s appeal to SLD on the grounds that it was untimely filed. For the reasons set forth below, we deny Southwick-Tolland’s appeal. 2. SLD issued a Funding Commitment Decision Letter on June 2, 2000, denying Southwick- Tolland’s request for discounted services under the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism. 2 Specifically, SLD denied Southwick- Tolland’s request for discounts for internet access, Funding Request Number (FRN) 390427. On July 24, 2000, Southwick- Tolland filed an appeal of SLD’s decision to deny FRN 390427. 3 On July 27, 2000, SLD issued an Administrator's Decision on Appeal indicating that it would not consider 1 Letter from Paul R. Petit, Southwick- Tolland Regional School District, to Federal Communications Commission, filed August 15, 2000 (Letter of Appeal). 2 Letter from Schools and Libraries Division, Universal Service Administrative Company, to Paul R. Petit, Southwick- Tolland Regional School District, dated June 2, 2000 (Funding Commitment Decision Letter). 3 Letter from Paul R. Petit, Southwick- Tolland Regional School District, to Schools and Libraries Division, Universal Service Administrative Company, filed July 24, 2000. 1 Federal Communications Commission DA 00- 2511 2 Southwick- Tolland’s appeal because it was received more than 30 days after the Funding Commitment Decision Letter was issued. 4 Southwick- Tolland 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 Southwick-Tolland failed to file an appeal of the June 2, 2000 Funding Commitment Decision Letter within the requisite 30- day appeal period, we affirm SLD’s decision to dismiss Southwick- Tolland’s 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 Southwick- Tolland Regional School District, Southwick, Massachusetts on August 15, 2000, 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 Paul R. Petit, Southwick- Tolland Regional School District, dated July 27, 2000 (Administrator’s Decision on Appeal). 5 47 C. F. R. § 54. 720. 6 47 C. F. R. § 1.7. 2