Federal Communications Commission DA 12-1967
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, DC  20554
In the Matter of
Requests for Waiver and/or Review of 
Decisions of the 
Universal Service Administrator by 
Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow
Columbus, Ohio, et al.
Schools and Libraries Universal Service
Support Mechanism
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File Nos. SLD-791983, et al.
CC Docket No. 02-6
ORDER
Adopted:  December 6, 2012 Released:  December 6, 2012
By the Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau:
1. Consistent with precedent,1 we grant six requests from petitioners2 seeking review of 
decisions made by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the E-rate program 
(more formally known as the schools and libraries universal service support program).3 In each case, 
USAC reduced funding because it found that the applicant failed to timely submit its FCC Form 486.  
Based on the facts and circumstances of these specific cases, we find that good cause exists to grant these 
appeals.4  On our own motion, we also waive section 54.507(d) of the Commission’s rules and direct 
  
1 See Requests for Review and Waiver of the Decisions of the Universal Service Administrator by Alaska Gateway 
School District, et al., Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism, File Nos. SLD-412028, et al., 
CC Docket No. 02-6, Order, 21 FCC Rcd 10182 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2006) (granting 128 appeals after finding 
good cause to waive the deadline for filing FCC Form 486). See also Requests for Waiver and Review of the 
Decisions of the Universal Service Administrator by Albertville City Schools, et al., Schools and Libraries Universal 
Service Support Mechanism, File Nos. SLD-739495, et al., CC Docket No. 02-6, Order, 27 FCC Rcd 6094 (Wireline 
Comp. Bur. 2012) (granting 12 appeals after finding good cause to waive the deadline for filing FCC Form 486).  
See also Requests for Waiver and Review of the Decisions of the Universal Service Administrator by Annette Island 
School District, et al., Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism, File Nos. SLD-746414, et al., 
CC Docket No. 02-6, Order, 27 FCC Rcd 13114 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2012) (granting 14 appeals after finding 
good cause to waive the deadline for filing FCC Form 486).
2 The requests for review are listed in the appendix. 
3 Section 54.719(c) of the Commission’s rules provides that any person aggrieved by an action taken by a division of 
USAC may seek review from the Commission.  47 C.F.R. § 54.719(c).
4 Generally, the Commission’s rules may be waived if good cause is shown.  47 C.F.R. § 1.3.  The Commission may 
exercise its discretion to waive a rule where the particular facts make strict compliance inconsistent with the public 
interest.  Northeast Cellular Telephone Co. v. FCC, 897 F.2d 1164, 1166 (D.C. Cir. 1990) (Northeast Cellular).  In 
addition, the Commission may take into account considerations of hardship, equity, or more effective 
Federal Communications Commission DA 12-1967
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USAC to waive any procedural deadlines, such as the invoicing deadline, that might be necessary to 
effectuate our ruling.5 We find good cause to waive section 54.507(d) because filing an appeal of a denial 
of funding is likely to cause petitioners to miss the program’s subsequent procedural deadlines in that 
funding year.     
2. We therefore remand the applications listed in the appendix to USAC for further action 
consistent with this order.  To ensure that those applications are resolved expeditiously, we direct USAC 
to complete its review of each application listed in the appendix, and issue a funding commitment or
denial based on a complete review and analysis, no later than 90 calendar days from the release date of 
this order.  In remanding these applications to USAC, we make no finding as to the ultimate eligibility of 
the services or as to the petitioners’ applications.  
3. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to the authority contained in sections 1-4 
and 254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 151-154 and 254, and sections 
0.91, 0.291, 1.3 and 54.722(a) of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.91, 0.291, 1.3 and 54.722(a), 
that the requests for waiver and/or review listed in the appendix ARE GRANTED and those applications 
ARE REMANDED to USAC for further consideration in accordance with the terms of this order.
4. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to the authority contained in sections 1-4 and 254 
of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 151-154 and 254, and sections 0.91, 
0.291, 1.3 and 54.722(a) of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.91, 0.291, 1.3 and 54.722(a), that 
section 54.507(d) of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. § 54.507(d), IS WAIVED for the petitioners 
listed in the appendix to the limited extent provided herein.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Trent B. Harkrader
Chief
Telecommunications Access Policy Division
Wireline Competition Bureau
    
implementation of overall policy on an individual basis. WAIT Radio v. FCC, 418 F.2d 1153, 1159 (D.C. Cir. 
1969); Northeast Cellular, 897 F.2d at 1166.  Waiver of the Commission’s rules is appropriate only if both (i) 
special circumstances warrant a deviation from the general rule, and (ii) such deviation will serve the public interest.  
NetworkIP, LLC v. FCC, 548 F.3d 116, 125-128 (D.C. Cir. 2008); Northeast Cellular, 897 F.2d at 1166.
5 47 C.F.R. § 54.507(d) (requiring non-recurring services to be implemented by September 30 following the close of 
the funding year). 
Federal Communications Commission DA 12-1967
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APPENDIX
Petitioner Application
Number(s)
Funding
Year
Date Request for 
Review/Waiver 
Filed  
Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow
Columbus, Ohio
791983 2011 Nov. 13, 2012
Lee County School District
Opelika, Alabama
737297, 743466 2010 Sept. 30, 2012
New Mexico School for the Deaf
Santa Fe, New Mexico
822110 2011 Oct. 23, 2012
Prairie Heights Community School 
Corporation
LaGrange, Indiana
792923 2011 Nov. 6, 2012
South Conejos School District RE-10
Antonito, Colorado
811170 2011 Oct. 15, 2012
South Valley Prep School
Albuquerque, New Mexico
816149 2011 Nov. 5, 2012