*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 4774.doc* Federal Communications Commission DA 00- 2540 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, DC 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Request for Review of the ) Decision of the ) Universal Service Administrator by ) ) North Gildford School ) File No. SLD- 160838 Gildford, Montana ) ) 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 9, 2000 Released: November 13, 2000 By the Accounting Policy Division, Common Carrier Bureau: 1. The Accounting Policy Division has under consideration a Letter of Appeal filed by North Gildford School (Gildford), Gildford, Montana, seeking review of a decision issued by the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service Administrative Company (Administrator). 1 Gildford seeks review of SLD’s refusal to consider Gildford’s appeal to SLD on the grounds that it was untimely filed. For the reasons set forth below, we deny Gildford’s appeal. 2. SLD issued a Funding Commitment Decision Letter on April 14, 2000, denying Gildford’s request for discounted services under the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism. 2 Specifically, SLD denied Gildford’s request for discounts for internal connections, Funding Request Number (FRN) 312153. On May 30, 2000, Gildford filed an appeal of SLD’s decision to deny FRN 312153. 3 On June 2, 2000, SLD issued an Administrator's Decision on Appeal indicating that it would not consider Gildford’s appeal 1 Letter from George Stahl, North Gildford School, to Federal Communications Commission, filed June 19, 2000 (Letter of Appeal). 2 Letter from Schools and Libraries Division, Universal Service Administrative Company, to Jason Stahl, North Gildford School, dated April 14, 2000 (Funding Commitment Decision Letter). 3 Letter from George Stahl, North Gildford School, to Schools and Libraries Division, Universal Service Administrative Company, filed May 30, 2000. 1 Federal Communications Commission DA 00- 2540 2 because it was received more than 30 days after the Funding Commitment Decision Letter was issued. 4 Gildford 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 Gildford failed to file an appeal of the April 14, 2000 Funding Commitment Decision Letter within the requisite 30- day appeal period, we affirm SLD’s decision to dismiss Gildford’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 North Gildford School, Gildford, Montana on June 19, 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 Jason Stahl, North Gildford School, dated June 2, 2000 (Administrator’s Decision on Appeal). 5 47 C. F. R. § 54. 720. 6 47 C. F. R. § 1.7. 2