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USAC Provides Demand Estimate for Funding Year 2010 to FCC

On March 10, 2010, the Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) reported to the Federal Communications Commission that $3.92 billion in requested funding has been estimated for schools and libraries seeking discounts for Funding Year 2010. This estimate is based on the dollars requested in 42,713 applications received or postmarked by February 19, 2010, the close of the Form 471 application filing window.

There are several factors that will reduce ultimately the funds requested from the estimated level. First, while efforts have been made to eliminate duplicate requests, inevitably we will discover more duplication as we process these applications. Second, USAC's efforts to assure that funds are committed only for eligible services, for use by eligible entities with the appropriate discount rate, and are otherwise consistent with program rules, will further reduce the demand.

For detailed information, please refer to the FY2010 Demand Estimate [PDF, 692KB]}.

FCC Gives School E-rate Programs More Flexibility to Allow Community Use of Broadband Services (2/22/10)

In an order and notice of proposed rulemaking released February 19, 2010 (FCC 10-33) the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) waives rules that currently discourage public use of resources funded under the E-rate program through FY2010, which ends June 30, 2011. In the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the FCC seeks comment on revising its rules to make the change permanent. Comment and reply comment dates will be set upon publishment of the NPRM in the Federal Register. This change will leverage universal service funding to serve a larger population at no increased cost to the E-rate program. The general public will be able to use the Internet access already present in schools - at the schools' discretion - for purposes such as job searches and applications, digital literacy programs, and online access to governmental services and resources.

FY2010 Filing Window Closed (2/20/10)

The FY2010 filing window has closed. If you have not certified your Form 471 or submitted your item 21 attachment please do so as soon as possible. USAC cannot process your Form 471 without the certification and Item 21 attachment(s). In other words, never in then never out.

FY2010 Filing Window Close Extended to February 19, 2010 (2/9/10)

Due to adverse weather conditions in many areas of the country that may have prevented applicants from filing their FY2010 E-rate applications by the close of the window, USAC - in consultation with the FCC - has extended the close of the filing window to FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2010 AT 11:59 pm EST.

All FCC Forms 471 electronically filed or postmarked by that date and time will be considered IN WINDOW.

Comment Period Established for CIPA NPRM

On November 5, 2009, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) FCC 09-96 to propose revising the FCC rules regarding the E-rate program to comply with the requirements of the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act. Comments on the NPRM are due to the FCC on or before February 18, 2010, and reply comments on or before March 5, 2010. For information on how to file comments, refer to Public Notice DA 10-102.

USAC to Issue Schools & Libraries BEAR Payments Electronically in 2010

The FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau announced that all federal Universal Service Fund (USF) support payments must be made by electronic funds transfer (See Public Notice DA 09-2126, released September 28, 2009). Currently, USAC still issues Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) payments by check.

Beginning in 2010, USAC will issue BEAR payments electronically where there is banking information provided in Block 11 (Schools and Libraries Remittance Information) on the Service Provider's FCC Form 498.  When a BEAR payment is issued electronically, an e-mail will be sent to the remittance contact in Block 11 of the Service Provider's FCC Form 498 to inform them of the payment. Remittance statements, which precede BEAR payments by approximately 2 weeks, will continue to be sent by either e-mail or hardcopy as requested on the Service Provider's FCC Form 498. 

For now, USAC continues to issue checks for both Service Provider Invoice (SPI) FCC Form 474 and Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) FCC Form 472 payments to companies who have not provided electronic banking information.  However, USAC reminds all Service Providers that the FCC's Public Notice indicates that, at some future date, payments will be held in the absence of electronic banking information.  Again, USAC will provide more details once the FCC sets that specific date.

All newly filed Forms 498 now require Service Providers to provide electronic banking information to USAC.  USAC encourages all service providers to update their Form 498 information using USAC's E-File System.

If you have any questions, please contact USAC Customer Operations at (888) 641-8722 or customerservice@bcd.universalservice.org. You may also visit us at www.usac.org.

FY2010 Application Filing Window Dates Established.

The FY2010 application filing window opened at noon EST on Thursday, December 3, 2009 and will close at 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 11, 2010. The filing window will be open for 71 days.

Applicants should note that FY2010 Forms 470 can be filed now.

Traditionally, a high percentage of Forms 471 arrive at USAC during the final week that the window is open. We urge you to file early so that:

• You have an opportunity to review your work and make corrections if necessary.
• You can re-file your form if an error you made cannot be corrected.
• USAC has your information and can start reviewing your application.

We also urge you to file online:

• The system notifies you of possible errors and allows you to correct them.
• The system does your calculations for you.
• You can review your information online before you submit it.
• Your information is submitted to us quickly and correctly.

Service Providers now have access to Item 21 attachments filed online

Service Providers Access to Online Item 21s

USAC Address Change for USF Contributor Invoice Payments

See USAC Address Change for USF Contributor Invoice Payments.