Federal Communications Commission DA 14-400
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of
Request for Review of a Decision 
of the Universal Service Administrator by
Dulce School District
Dulce, New Mexico
Ridgefield Park School District
Ridgefield Park, New Jersey
Schools and Libraries Universal Service
Support Mechanism
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File No. SLD-814740
File No. SLD-816108
File No. SLD-816108
ORDER
Adopted:  March 24, 2014 Released: March 24, 2014
By the Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau:
1. Consistent with precedent,
1
we grant the requests from Dulce School District, Dulce, 
New Mexico (Dulce) and Ridgefield Park School District, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey (Ridgefield Park) 
(together petitioners)
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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).
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2. In both instances, USAC reduced funding based on incorrect service start date 
information provided on the FCC Forms 486 submitted by Dulce and Ridgefield Park.  Our review of the 
record supports petitioners’ contentions that they inadvertently submitted incorrect service start dates 
when filing their FCC Forms 486 Receipt of Service Confirmation and Children’s Internet Protection Act 
and Technology Plan Certification Form.
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  We therefore grant petitioners’ requests and direct USAC to 
                                                     
1
Request for Review and/or Waiver of the Decision of the Universal Service Administrator by Glendale Unified 
School District; Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism, CC Docket No. 02-6, Order, 21 FCC 
Rcd 1040 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2006); Requests for Review and/or Waiver of Decisions of the Universal Service 
Administrator by Audubon Regional Library et al., Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism,
CC Docket No. 02-6, Order, 27 FCC Rcd 13119 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2012) (both orders granted requests for 
review from applicants who inadvertently listed the wrong service start date on their FCC Forms 486).
2
Letter from Bart Owen, Technology Coordinator, Dulce School District, to Office of the Secretary, Federal 
Communications Commission, CC Docket No. 02-6 (filed April 11, 2013); Letter from Sumone Kelly, Director of 
Technology, Ridgefield Park School District, to Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, CC 
Docket No. 02-6 (filed May 6, 2013). 
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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).
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Dulce School District Request for Review at 1; Ridgefield Park School District Request for Review at 1. 
Federal Communications Commission DA 14-400
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adjust the service start date with respect to the applications at issue.  
3. On our own motion, we also waive section 54.507(d) of the Commission’s rules and 
direct USAC to waive any procedural deadlines, such as the invoicing deadline, that might be necessary 
to effectuate our ruling.
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  We find good cause to waive section 54.507(d) because filing an appeal of a 
denial of funding is likely to cause Dulce and Ridgefield Park to miss the program’s subsequent 
procedural deadlines in that funding year.
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4. We therefore remand the underlying applications for Dulce and Ridgefield Park to USAC 
for further action consistent with this order.  To ensure that the underlying applications are resolved 
expeditiously, we direct USAC to complete its review of the applications and issue a funding 
commitment or denial based on a complete review and analysis of the applications 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 Dulce and Ridgefield Park’s application.      
5. 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 review filed by Dulce School District, Dulce, New Mexico and Ridgefield Park 
School District, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey ARE GRANTED and the underlying applications ARE 
REMANDED to USAC for further consideration in accordance with the terms of this order.
6. 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 Dulce School 
District, Dulce, New Mexico and Ridgefield Park School District, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, to the 
limited extent provided herein.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Kimberly A. Scardino 
Chief
Telecommunications Access Policy Division
Wireline Competition Bureau
                                                     
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47 C.F.R. § 54.507(d) (requiring non-recurring services to be implemented by September 30 following the close of 
the funding year). 
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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 
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.