On August 17 the USAC Schools and Libraries Committee gave the SLD authority to start issuing internal connections (priority 2) commitments down to the 87% discount threshold. It will take a few days for the FCC to officially approve this action and Mel Blackwell said that he hopes to start issuing internal connections commitments within the next two 2005 funding waves. Mel Blackwell further stated that they “probably” would be able to go below the 87% discount rate; however, he gave no indication when they may make that determination.