USACE-RateResources
Announcements

Announcements

February 21, 2025
Extended CSC Hours for Final Days of the Application Filing Window

The E-Rate Customer Service Center (CSC) will be open extended hours before the March 26, 2025 deadline for the close of the FY2025 FCC Form 471 application filing window to help applicants with last-minute questions and any issues. Call CSC at (888) 203-8100 for assistance.

Below are CSC’s extended hours beginning Saturday, March 22, through Wednesday, March 26 (all times are Eastern Time (E.T.)):

Saturday, March 22 – 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, March 23 – 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, March 24 – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, March 25 – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, March 26 – 8 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.

February 21, 2025
Computers in Libraries Conference 2025

Visit USAC at Booth #115 at the Computers in Libraries Conference to be held March 25 – 27, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Event link.

February 4, 2025
E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance

The E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable on Friday, February 21, 2025 from 6 p.m. to Saturday, February 22, 12 p.m. ET for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC. We apologize for any inconvenience.

January 31, 2025
Pre-Commitment Process (FCC Forms 470, 471, ESL, etc.) E-Rate Question & Answer (Q&A) Session 2025

On February 11, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST, E-Rate subject matter experts will answer questions about the competitive bidding process, Category Two budgets, and the Eligible Services List. This is recommended for applicants and service providers of all E-Rate experience levels. Please review the pre-requisites PRIOR to the webinar:

Register Here

January 17, 2025
FCC Releases California Wildfires Relief Order

On January 16, 2025, the FCC released Order DA 25-63 waiving certain rules and deadlines to provide relief to victims located in areas of California that are affected by the spread of wildfires and straight-line winds California Wildfires.

January 8, 2025
Service Provider Selection and the FCC Form 471 E-Rate Question & Answer (Q&A) Session

On January 30, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), E-Rate subject matter experts will provide an overview of how to apply for program discounts on the FCC Form 471 for applicants. This webinar is open to all experience levels. Please review the pre-requisites PRIOR to the webinar:

Register Here

January 8, 2025
Competitive Bidding (FCC Form 470) E-Rate Question & Answer (Q&A) Session

On January 23, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST, E-Rate subject matter experts will walk you through competitive bidding and the FCC Form 470 with a focus on the FCC Form Guiding Statements Document. This webinar is open to all experience levels. Please review the pre-requisites PRIOR to the webinar:

Register Here

January 8, 2025
Eligible Services E-Rate Question & Answer (Q&A) Session

On January 16, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), E-Rate subject matter experts will provide an overview of FY2025 E-Rate eligible services for applicants and service providers. This webinar is open to all experience levels. Please review the pre-requisites PRIOR to the webinar:

Register Here

December 18, 2024
FY2023 Invoicing Reminders

There are two important invoice deadlines for FY2023 recurring and non-recurring services coming up early in 2025. We are reminding you now to take the necessary steps to file and certify your invoices (for non-recurring services) on or before these deadlines or request a one-time 120-day invoicing deadline extension (for recurring services).

The deadlines are generally:

  • January 28, 2025 for FY2023 non-recurring services. Applicants and service providers must certify their invoices or ask for an invoice deadline extension by this date.
  • February 25, 2025 for FY2023 recurring services, if the applicant or service provider requested and received an invoice deadline extension of the original October 28, 2024 invoice deadline. Applicants and service providers must certify their invoices by this date, as USAC cannot grant a second invoice deadline extension.

Applicants and service providers who have not completed the invoicing process for their FY2023 recurring services should gather the customer bills and other documents now that they will need to accurately invoice USAC.

Regardless of the invoicing mode, service providers must file their FCC Form 473 (Service Provider Annual Certification (SPAC) Forms) in EPC for FY2023 before any invoicing can occur. You can verify this by locating the record for your service provider in the E-Rate Service Provider Download tool. The funding years for which the service provider has filed a SPAC Form are listed in the FCC Form 473 SPAC Filed column. See Module 2: File and FCC Form 473 in the EPC invoicing for Service Providers learning module.

If you are a service provider filing an FCC Form 474 (Service Provider Invoice (SPI) Form), you must have billed the applicant for its non-discount share. There is a presumption that your customer (the applicant) will pay your bill within 90 days.

If you are an applicant filing an FCC Form 472 (Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) Form):

  • File and certify an FCC Form 498 if you have not already done so. You must have certified – and USAC must have reviewed and approved – an FCC Form 498. Be sure to follow up with the required documentation (canceled check, bank statement, or similar document) that verifies your bank account information. Call USAC at (888) 641-8722 and choose option 4 (contributors) if you have questions.
  • You must have paid the service provider in full for the cost of the services.
  • You must have filed an FCC Form 486 to notify USAC that services have started.
  • Make sure your service providers have completed their FCC Form 473 (Service Provider Annual Certification (SPAC) Forms) for FY2023 as noted above.

Here are some resources for additional assistance in filing these forms:

Applicants

Service Providers

December 18, 2024
FY2025 Eligible Services List Available

The FCC Wireline Communications Bureau (WCB) released the FY2025 Eligible Services List (ESL) (DA 24-1104) on October 25, 2024. You can review the FY2025 ESL on the Eligible Services List page to learn which services are eligible for E-Rate discounts for the upcoming funding year.

In the order, WCB revised the description of “wireless” service to read “Wireless (e.g., fixed wireless; microwave; mobile service for use on school buses; or mobile service for use with Wi-Fi hotspots)” and amended the explanation of “Wireless services and wireless Internet access” to note the eligibility of off-premises use of Wi-Fi hotspots and mobile wireless internet services. A new note was added that basic technical support, software upgrades, bug fixes, and security patches are eligible for school bus Wi-Fi network equipment.

The eligibility of off-campus wireless service on a school bus was clarified, as well as the requirement of cost allocation of certain off-campus use of E-Rate-funded services. WCB also clarified that the cost-effectiveness test for data plans and air cards applies only to on-campus use and noted that E-Rate’s eligibility rules for basic firewall services are unchanged for FY2025.

December 18, 2024
Customer Service Center Holiday Hours

The Customer Service Center (CSC) provides customer service across USAC programs with specialized agents trained to answer your E-Rate program questions. At the end of December, CSC will be reducing its open hours around the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

CSC will be open during its customary hours through Tuesday, December 24 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET) as well as December 26 and December 31.

CSC, however, will be closed over the next two weeks on:

  • Wednesday, December 25, 2024 – CLOSED
  • Wednesday, January 1, 2025 – CLOSED

CSC will resume its customary hours starting at 8 a.m. ET on Thursday, January 2, 2025. 

December 18, 2024
Winter Deferral Period Starts December 20

Many E-Rate program participants are unavailable during the winter holiday season, and USAC recognizes that participants may need additional time to respond to requests for information. Winter deferral extends from the Friday before Christmas Day through the Friday following New Year’s Day.

During our annual winter deferral period – Friday, December 20, 2024 through Friday, January 3, 2025 – USAC will only continue reviews of forms and requests where documentation was received or where participants respond to information requests sent in the EPC.

If USAC does not receive a response during this period, the form or request will be placed in a deferred status until January 6, 2025. However, we will be reviewing applications during the winter deferral period, if we have answers to our questions. For those of you who can respond to our questions, please do so. This will allow us to continue reviewing applications and issue funding decisions more quickly.

December 18, 2024
Funding Year (FY) 2025 FCC Form 471 Application Filing Window Opens January 15, 2025

The Funding Year (FY) 2025 FCC Form 471 application filing window will open on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at noon ET and will close on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. In addition, the EPC Administrative Window will close, Thursday, January 9, 2025.

Wednesday, February 26, 2025 is the last date that you can submit and certify an FCC Form 470 and still wait the required minimum 28-day period before submitting and certifying your FCC Form 471 by March 26, 2025, the last date of the FY2025 application filing window.

All applicants can now review their EPC profiles and make any additional updates for changes that occurred after USAC’s review of their FY2024 FCC Forms 471 (see Tip above). The EPC Administrative Window will close – and the applicant profiles will be locked – on January 9, 2025 before the FY2025 application filing window opens January 15, 2025. View the EPC Administrative Window webinar slides to learn more.

December 18, 2024
C2 Budget Management Guide Update

USAC updated the FY2021-FY2025 Category Two (C2) Budget Management Guide to include expanded information how to check your available C2 funding, determine if you have any expired C2 funding, and how to submit an FCC Form 500 to reduce expired or unused commitments and make that funding available for FY2025. The Category Two (C2) budget tool provides data on the FY2021-FY2025 C2 budget cycle if you want to view your C2 budget information. It is available on the Tools page along with a video on how to use the tool.

October 28, 2024
FCC Releases FY2025 Eligible Services List

The FCC has released the Eligible Services List (ESL) for Funding Year (FY) 2025 (DA-24-1104A1, released October 25, 2024). Appendix B contains the ESL.

October 17, 2024
E-Rate Systems (EPC, ECF, CBR) Outage October 25, 2024 due to System Maintenance:

The E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC), Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), and Cybersecurity Pilot Program (CBR) sites will be unavailable Friday, October 25 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. EST due to system upgrades. During this time, users will be unable to log in or access these systems. We apologize for any inconvenience.

October 11, 2024
FY 2025 Off-Premises Wi-Fi Hotspots Funding

Starting in Funding Year (FY) 2025, eligible schools and libraries can begin Wi-Fi hotspot lending programs for off-premises remote learning, using Wi-Fi hotspots and mobile wireless Internet services for students and library patrons. For more information, review the Off-Premises Wi-Fi Hotspots Overview, the Wi-Fi Hotspots FAQs, and webinar materials covering eligible services, Wi-Fi Hotspot budgets, and more.

October 11, 2024
New Administrative Window eLM

USAC posted the “How to Update Your E-Rate EPC Profile During the Administrative Window” e-learning module and interactive user guide on the USAC website to help you get started with your FY2025 admin window process. The Administrative Window allows applicants to make updates to their entity profile information in EPC in preparation for FCC Form 471 application filing window. The learning module walks you through the steps for updating user rights levels, EPC profile information for libraries and schools, how to bulk upload entity profile data, and how to request a C2 replacement budget.

October 11, 2024
FCC Releases Hurricane Milton Relief Order

On October 9, the FCC released Order DA 24-1059, waiving several E-Rate rules and deadlines, on a temporary basis, to assist participants and providers located in the areas affected by Hurricane Milton and its immediate aftermath (collectively, the Milton Weather Events). This order is also applicable to affected FCC programs’ participants and USF contributors in Lifeline, Emergency Connectivity Fund, Rural Health Care, and High Cost.

October 8, 2024
FCC Releases Hurricane Relief Order

On October 1, 2024, the FCC released Order DA 24-1025, waiving certain Lifeline, E-Rate, Emergency Connectivity Fund, Rural Health Care, and High Cost rules for those FCC programs’ participants and for USF contributors located in areas affected by Hurricane Helene.

September 27, 2024
E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance:

The E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable on Thursday October, 10 from 7p.m. to 10 p.m. ET for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC. We apologize for any inconvenience.

September 27, 2024
FY2024 FCC Form 486 Deadline Reminder

Generally, October 28, 2024 is the deadline to file an FY2024 FCC Form 486 if your FCDL is dated on or before July 1, 2024 and your service start date is July 1, 2024. If these conditions apply to you, please submit and certify your FCC Form 486 on or before this deadline.

If your FCC Form 486 appears to be late, we will send you an FCC Form 486 Urgent Reminder Letter to remind you of the upcoming deadline. The service start date you reported on your FCC Form 471 is used to determine when to send the letter, so if your service start date has changed, your deadline may have changed as well.

This reminder letter is posted to your News feed in EPC and is emailed to the contact person on the FCC Form 471. These letters will start going out after October 28, 2024 for FY2024 commitments.

You have 15 days after the date of the reminder letter to submit and certify your FCC Form 486 without penalty. Again, if your service start date has changed, the service start date you enter on your certified FCC Form 486 will determine whether your filing is considered late.

Applicants whose services started after July 1, 2024, or whose FCDLs are dated after July 1, 2024 (including any that have not yet been issued), will have an FCC Form 486 deadline later than October 28. However, we encourage you to submit and certify your FCC Form 486 as soon as possible after services start for FY2024 and if you can accurately make all the certifications on the form.

September 27, 2024
Annual Renewal of SAM.gov Registration Required to Submit BEAR Forms

If you are an E-Rate applicant that submits the FCC Form 472 (Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR)) form to invoice USAC and you registered for a SAM.gov Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), you must renew the SAM.gov registration annually on SAM.gov.

You may have obtained a UEI if you participated in the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) or if you updated an existing FCC Form 498 (Service Provider and Billed Entity Identification Number and Contact Information Form) or submitted a new FCC Form 498 after May 12, 2023. 

This is particularly important if you have FY2023 recurring services Funding Request Numbers (FRNs) with an approaching October 28, 2024 invoice deadline date. If you have a UEI and it is not currently active, you will not be able to submit the BEAR form in EPC. 

You can check the status of your FCC Form 498 in the E-Rate Entity Search Tool. Enter your FCC Form 498 Number in the Entity Number filter and look in the FCC Form 498 Status column. 

If you have not recently changed your FCC Form 498 information, you likely don’t have a UEI, so no action is required at this time. 

Visit SAM.gov to check your UEI status and renew your entity if needed.

September 27, 2024
FY2023 Invoicing Filing Deadline for Recurring Services

October 28, 2024 is the deadline to file an invoice or to request an invoice deadline extension (IDE) for most Funding Year (FY) 2023 recurring services Funding Request Numbers (FRNs). This invoice filing deadline applies to both applicant and service provider invoices – the FCC Form 472 (Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR Form)) and the FCC Form 474 (Service Provider Invoice (SPI) and (eSPI)), respectively.

How To Request an Invoice Filing Deadline Extension for FRNs From FY2016 and Forward
Both applicants and service providers can request an invoice filing deadline extension in EPC by following the steps below. Remember that there is no penalty for requesting an invoice filing deadline extension and not using it.

Applicants: 

  • On your invoicing landing page, click the link to the billed entity record (the name in the Welcome! link near the top of the page or the first entry under the My Entities section).
  • Select the Related Actions menu and choose Invoice Deadline Date Extension Request.

Service Providers:

  • From the Records tab at the top of any EPC page, click the Service Providers option.
  • Use the Search function to locate your service provider record.
  • Select the Related Actions menu and choose Invoice Deadline Date Extension Request.

You can use the E-Rate FRN Status Tool FY2016+ to find the invoicing filing deadline by searching for the FRN(s) and looking in the “Last Date to Invoice” column.

September 27, 2024
EPC Administrative Window Opens October 15, 2024 

The administrative window will open Tuesday, October 15, 2024 and will close shortly before the FY2025 application filing window opens in early 2025. After this time, applicant profiles will be locked, and you will not be able to make changes to your profile information.

Go to the EPC Administrative Window page for detailed information on updating entity profiles and join our October 24 Administrative Window webinar to learn more.

All announcements can be found in the Announcements Archive.

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