New Application Window Announced | Emergency Connectivity Fund Window #3
Applications Open Thursday, April 28th, 2022
The FCC has announced a third and likely final application window for the Emergency Connectivity Fund. The application window opens Thursday, April 28th 2022 and will close on Friday, May 13th at 9:59pm MT
With approximately $1 billion of funding remaining from the original $7.17 billion signed in Spring 2021, the third application window offers to reimburse 100% of eligible devices (such as laptops and tablets) and services (such as hotspots) delivered between July ‘22 and Dec ‘23.
Have questions about how to apply? Schedule a call to talk to your E-rate coordinator Daniel Vogt:
IMPORTANT: Regarding Unmet Needs – During the review of requests for reimbursement, you may be asked to provide information regarding your unmet needs, in addition to the information provided during the application review process. This is required to confirm the applicant’s actual unmet needs.
Who and What Is Eligible?
Schools, libraries, and consortia of schools and libraries that are eligible for support under the FCC's E-Rate program, are eligible to request and receive support through the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program.
In addition, the Order clarifies that Tribal libraries, which are eligible for support under the Library Services and Technology Act, are also eligible for the Emergency Connectivity Fund.
Schools and libraries eligible for the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program do not need to be current E-Rate participants. Eligible entities that have not applied for E-Rate support should be prepared to demonstrate eligibility as a school or library under the Program rules during USAC's application review.
What Equipment and Services Are Covered by the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program?
The following types of equipment purchased for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons who would otherwise lack sufficient connectivity to engage in remote learning are eligible for support:
Laptop and tablet computers
Wi-Fi hotspots
Modems (including air cards)
Routers
Devices that combine a modem and router.
Schools and libraries can also receive funding for commercially available broadband internet service that provides a fixed or mobile broadband connection for off-campus use by students, school staff, or library patrons who would otherwise lack access to connectivity sufficient to engage in remote learning.
In limited circumstances where a school or library can demonstrate that there are no available service options sufficient to support remote learning for its students, school staff, or library patrons, the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program may support the construction of new networks and the equipment needed for datacasting services.
Review the Eligible Services List for additional guidance on the equipment and services eligible for funding under the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program.
How Can Schools or Libraries Apply?
A third ECF application filing window will open on April 28, 2022 and close on May 13, 2022. During this third application filing window, eligible schools, libraries, and consortia of eligible schools and libraries can submit requests for funding to purchase eligible equipment and up to 12 months of services between July 1, 2022 and December 31, 2023.
Please review the FCC’s Emergency Connectivity Fund FAQs, which it continues to update as new questions come in: www.fcc.gov/emergency-connectivity-fund-faqs.
More detail on the Program is available in the FCC Order that established the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program. To learn more, please visit EmergencyConnectivityFund.org and sign up for Emergency Connectivity Fund Program emails .
Applicants and service providers can also contact the Emergency Connectivity Fund Customer Support Center (CSC) with questions at (800) 234-9781 Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, or submit a case in the ECF Portal.
FAQ
Can we request funding for service for all 18 months of the relevant funding period for the third application filing window?
No. Applicants may only request support for a maximum of 12 months of eligible services during the third application filing window that covers eligible equipment and services received or delivered between July 1, 2022 and December 31, 2023. On the ECF FCC Form 471, an applicant should provide the service start and end dates for the 12 months of service that will be requested during that funding period.
Can a school or library submit an application in the third application filing window to continue services that were funded through a first or second window funding request?
Yes, provided they are not requesting duplicative funding for equipment or services that are committed and were or will be funded through the applicant’s first or second window funding requests. To avoid duplicative support and expedite the review of the third filing window applications, applicants should include in the narrative section of the ECF FCC Form 471 application information regarding services funded through first or second window requests, including the ECF FCC Form 471 application number(s) and the service end date(s) for these services that will be funded through the first or second window funding commitment, as well as the up to 12 months of new services being requested during the third application filing window.
For example, an applicant received a funding commitment decision letter on December 31, 2022 for 12 months of recurring services for its second window application. If the applicant starts the recurring service on January 1, 2022 (because they were waiting to receive a FCDL before starting services), the applicant would provide information about this application and FRN, as well as the service start and end dates of January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022 in the narrative section of their third filing window ECF FCC Form 471. The applicant could also request support for the continuation of this recurring service from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023 on its third filing window ECF FCC Form 471 and note in the narrative that these are the service and end dates for the third filing window funding request.
What is the deadline for filing for reimbursement for funding requests submitted during the third application filing window?
On March 23, 2022, the Bureau established December 31, 2023 as the service delivery date for all requests for equipment, other non-recurring services, and recurring services submitted in the third application filing window. Therefore, the invoice filing deadline for third window ECF funding requests is 60 days from the later of the following dates:
The date of the funding commitment decision letter (FCDL);
The date of a revised funding commitment decision letter (RFCDL) approving a post-commitment change or a successful appeal of previously denied or reduced funding; or
The service delivery date of December 31, 2023.
This also means that all of these funding requests have an invoice filing deadline of February 29, 2024, unless the FCDL is issued after December 31, 2023 or the RFCDL is still pending.
Please see DA 22-309 for additional information about the service delivery date applicable to third window ECF funding requests. The modified service delivery date rule (section 54.1711(e)) will become effective upon publication in the Federal Register.
What is the extended service delivery date and invoicing deadline for funding requests submitted during the first and second application filing windows?
Per the FCC’s February 22, 2022 Order (DA 22-176), the service delivery date for all Emergency Connectivity Fund Program requests for equipment, other non-recurring services, and recurring services submitted during the first and second application filing windows was extended from June 30, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Based on this Order, the invoice filing deadline is now 60 days from the later of the following dates:
The date of the funding commitment decision letter (FCDL);
The date of a revised funding commitment decision letter (RFCDL) approving a post-commitment change or a successful appeal of previously denied or reduced funding; or
The service delivery date of June 30, 2023.
This also means that all of these funding requests have an invoice filing deadline of August 29, 2023, unless the FCDL is issued after June 30, 2023 or the RFCDL is still pending.
The modified service delivery date rule (section 54.1711(e)) became effective on March 14, 2022. USAC is in the process of updating its systems to reflect the new service delivery date for upcoming and existing ECF commitments. Until the systems work is completed, the previous date of June 30, 2022 will still be reflected in your FCDL and in the ECF portal.
Please note that the Order does not impact funding requests for the construction of new networks or the provision of customer premises equipment for datacasting services. Applicants seeking support for special construction or customer premises datacasting equipment are provided one year from the date of their funding commitment decision letter to demonstrate that construction is completed and the services have been provided.
If the applicant doesn’t start service until after its funding commitment decision letter is approved for a first or second window funding request, can it still receive the 12 months of service requested and approved?
Yes, the Bureau granted a waiver (DA 22-176) extending the service delivery deadline for all first and second window funding requests for equipment, other non-recurring services, and recurring services from June 30, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Applicants may therefore still seek reimbursement for the 12 months of service that was requested and approved, even if they didn’t start the service until after the funding commitment decision was received.
If the applicant didn’t start service until September 1st and originally requested only 10 months of service, can it now request additional funding for recurring services beyond June 30, 2022 with the FCC’s new service delivery date extension for first and second window funding requests?
No, requests to increase the support amount for a funding request, pre- or post-commitment, will be denied