“Back in the Day” is a saying that rolls off of my tongue quite frequently now that I am in my 30’s. Okay, so yes I’m still young (even younger at heart)! On the other hand, my son Josiah is determined that I’m old and not hip to the New School. I often entertain his bank of knowledge and all of his 8 year old wisdom and ask him to explain, or give me instructions on how to do things.
Last weekend, under Josiah’s tutelage, I was instructed on how to play this cool new game called “Red Light/Green Light” with his buds (yes folks – a brand NEW game). You remember the game … one person plays the stop light ("it") that everyone is going after. We all line up side by side about 5 yards away from the stop light. The stop light is turned facing away from other players and calls out "Green Light" while counting or trying to peak at everyone coming towards him/her at full speed. Then suddenly, the stop light turns around and yells “Red Light” and kids are dropping, shoes are sliding, knees are scraping, and let’s not forget the kid playing along on his bike. SN: Great exercise after eating a quarter of a turkey. We continue when the stop light turns back around and yells “Green Light” and then "Red Light" again, etc. The stop light wins if all the kids are out before anyone is able to touch him/her or the first player to touch the stop light wins the game and earns the right to be the stop light for the next game.
I can honestly say this was one of my favorite games to play “back in the day” but not a fun game to play for carriers that are late paying invoices and fees that are due to federal regulatory agencies such as the FCC and now even USAC.
Monthly USAC invoices can be killer, but stretching the time to pay-up is not a good idea anymore. The rules state that an entity and affiliates sharing the same taxpayer identification number (TIN) are vulnerable to the FCC Red Light Rule and will be placed in “Red Light Status” a day after the due date.
Like the childhood game…The “Red Light” will stop you in your tracks and the FCC’s Red Light Display (RLD) System will not turn around and say “Green Light” until the debt is paid in full.
