Special constriction

You know I'm going to read and comment on a new report out from the Benton Foundation and EducationSuperHighway called "Improving the Administration of E-Rate."

Oh dang, it's long. And no pictures.  OK, maybe just the Executive Summary.  Here's my Executive Summary Summary:

• USAC is using a flawed cost model to delay and deny special construction applications.
• PIA is asking confusing, opaque and flawed questions. 
• “Cardinal change rule”  ('nuff said).

Damn, they pulled me in.  I'm reading on.

"But nothing in the FCC’s orders authorize USAC to administer its duties through a hidden process, based on non-transparent criteria...."  What?!  The entire PIA process is administered through 700 pages of hidden processes and non-transparent criteria!  Yes, the special construction approval process is kafkaesque, but it's no worse than any Cost-Effectiveness Review (CER). All the points they raise apply to all CERs, as some of us have been pointing out since the CER first appeared.

The report also says that the ever-shifting questionnaire on fiber builds is improper because USAC is making changes in the standards for approval of E-Rate applications.  That may be true, but we don't know; the standards are secret.  It may be that the questionnaire is in the PIA procedure manual that the FCC approves every year.  We'll never know, because the FCC says that the routine processing of funding applications is a law enforcement action.

I like the report's discussion of the Public Records Act (PRA) requirement that information collections be approved by OMB. " The absence of OMB approval appears to provide any E-rate applicant with a complete, statutory defense to any agency action." Oh, snap!  Except unapproved information collections are nothing new.  Remember Item 21 Attachments?  Required information collection, but not approved by OMB.  And don't forget bid evaluation worksheets.  Shouldn't Service Substitutions and SPIN Changes be on a form?

Next, the report turns to the "cardinal change rule." I agree that USAC has provided no guidance on what the rule is, but what did you expect?  They haven't even defined what an RFP is, even though they're requiring them for some applications. (Add RFPs to the list of information collections without PRA approval from OMB.)

The recommendations in the conclusion are all very good and quite reasonable.  But since the FCC believes that E-Rate applications are law enforcement actions, it wouldn't be prudent to give all that information to the suspected lawbreakers (applicants).  

Also, reducing the fear and uncertainty in the E-Rate application process will put us E-Rate consultants out of business.  In principle, that's good, but in practice ... well ... can we wait until my kids are out of college?