USACE-RateCybersecurity Pilot ProgramApplicant Process
FCC Form 471

FCC Form 471

After Pilot participants complete the competitive bidding process and select a service provider, they may request Pilot Program funding using the Pilot FCC Form 471. Pilot participants can find, complete, and certify the Pilot FCC Form 471 in the Cybersecurity Pilot Program portal.

The Pilot FCC Form 471 application filing window to request funding will run from March 18, 2025 at 8 a.m. ET through September 15, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. All program participants must submit a Pilot FCC Form 471 during the application filing window, along with completing and submitting their Pilot FCC Form 484 Part 2, to receive Pilot Program funding for eligible cybersecurity services and equipment.

As in the E-Rate program, Pilot participants will be asked to provide the following information on their Pilot FCC Form(s) 471: the recipients of services and equipment and the selected service provider(s); detailed descriptions of the services and equipment requested, including their costs and the dates of service or equipment; and certifications regarding compliance with Pilot Program rules. Pilot participants will also be required to specify whether they or their service provider will be submitting invoices for each funding request on the Pilot FCC Form(s) 471 and must submit Pilot FCC Form(s) 471 to cover the full Pilot project (i.e., the full three-year term).

An in-depth walkthrough of the form can be found in the Pilot FCC Form 471 User Guide.

Application Review Process

To ensure compliance with the FCC’s rules, the Pilot FCC Form 471 will be subject to Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) reviews similar to the reviews USAC conducts on the FCC Form 471 submitted in the E-Rate program. Pilot participants can expect USAC to reach out to the contact(s) listed on the FCC Form 471 to inquire about information provided on the form and/or request supporting documentation. To expedite the review of these forms, Pilot participants are encouraged to timely respond to such requests.

All applications undergo an initial review and a final review to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the information provided on the form. Questions from PIA reviewers may relate to one or more of the following topics:

  • Eligibility of the services/equipment requested;
  • Cost Effectiveness of the services/equipment requested;
  • Ensuring that the requested funding does not exceed the participant’s approved budget;
  • Contracts; and
  • The competitive bidding process.

Response Time, Additional Reviews, and Follow-Up

Pilot participants have 15 calendar days to respond to PIA questions. Participants can ask for more time if needed, but the timely response to all inquiries is encouraged to expedite the review process. Service provider(s) can assist Pilot participants with preparing responses to USAC’s questions except for questions about the competitive bidding and service provider selection processes.

To the extent the information requested during the application review process might include proprietary or sensitive commercial and financial information, Pilot participants and service providers may request confidential treatment of the information under section 0.459 of the FCC rules. See FCC Instructions for Submitting Confidential Information.

Some applications may undergo additional review, such as a Selective Review. During a Selective review, a PIA reviewer may request more detailed information from Pilot participants, which may include:

  • Documentation of the competitive bidding and service provider selection processes;
  • Documentation of the participant’s ability to pay the non-discounted share of the costs of eligible equipment and services (the portion of the cost of eligible equipment and services not reimbursed by the program); and
  • Proof that the participant has obtained necessary resources – e.g., hardware, software, staff training – that are not eligible for Pilot Program funding, but that must be in place to effectively use of the requested equipment and services.

Following review of the Pilot FCC Form(s) 471 and the submission of the Pilot FCC Form 484 Part 2, USAC will issue a Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) to both the participant and the selected service provider(s) approving, modifying, or denying each funding request submitted. The FCDL will provide the amount of committed funding available for each request based on the Pilot participant’s pre-discount three-year budget, will cover the three-year term of the Pilot Program, and will include a reminder to participants that funding is contingent upon full compliance with the FCC rules.

Pilot participants should review this letter carefully, as it contains important information both for planning the start of the receipt of services and for submitting requests for reimbursement. If you disagree with one or more of the decisions in your FCDL, you can submit an appeal of the decision to USAC.