If you’re planning on taking applying of the Emergency Connectivity Fund, read on for information about how to prepare for the 45-day application window!
The opening of the 45-day application window has not yet been announced, nor has a general timeframe been confirmed.
Official ECF Newsletter
USAC has started an official Newsletter for trainings and news about the Emergency Connectivity Fund. You can sign up for free, right here:
Prepare your data regarding “Unmet Needs”
USAC is assuming that schools and districts have already conducted surveys or assessments to determine who still needs services or devices to take part in remote education. Although this data will not be asked for at time of application, but could be requested in the future, schools and districts must certify that they have collected this data somehow.
The surveys or “Needs Assessments” can be as simple as a short Google Forms survey, or a flyer for parents to send home with their kids, asking questions like:
Do you connect to the Internet with a home connection? (Yes/No)
Do you connect to the Internet at home through a smartphone data plan? (Yes/No)
If both, which connection is more reliable? (Home/Smartphone)
Which of the following do you have available to use for education? (Desktop PC, laptop, Chromebook, iPad, Other, etc)
Can you sustain a 10-minute video call without regular Internet difficulties? (Yes/No)
Can you sustain a 45-minute video call without regular Internet difficulties? (Yes/No)
If you have Internet access, do you receive assistance through a federal program, such as Lifeline or the EBB (Emergency Broadband Benefit)? (Yes/No)
Do you receive federal assistance through SNAP or TANF? (Yes/No)
Official ECF Training for Applicants
USAC will conduct outreach and training about the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program. Register for an Emergency Connectivity Fund overview training. USAC will repeat the training several times to allow all potential applicants to join a session.
Wednesday, June 16 @ 2 p.m. ET: Overview Webinar for E-rate Participants – Register
Thursday, June 17 @ 2 p.m. ET: Overview Webinar for New (Non E-rate Participants) – Register
Thursday, June 17 @ 4 p.m. ET: Overview for Tribal Applicants – Register
Wednesday, June 23 @ 3 p.m. ET: Overview for Potential Applicants – Register
Other Steps to Prepare (from USAC’s newsletter)
Obtain an FCC Registration Number or locate your existing registration number if you already have one.
Schools, libraries, and consortia of schools and libraries that intend to submit a funding application for the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program, as well as service providers that agree to invoice on behalf of applicants, should make sure they have an FCC Registration Number. If a program participant previously registered with the FCC, they do not need to complete this step again. Schools. libraries, and services providers can obtain an FCC Registration Number by visiting the FCC Commission Registration System (CORES) and completing the registration process.
Register with SAM.gov so that you can receive support through the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program.
Applicants can apply for the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program before their SAM.gov registration is approved, but will not be able to receive program funding until they have completed their registration. Applicants and service providers who agree to invoice on behalf of applicants must have an active registration with SAM.gov to receive support through the Program.
You can also search to see if your organization already has an active SAM.gov registration here.
Emergency Connectivity Fund Program participants do not need to re-register at SAM.gov if they already have an active SAM.gov registration.
Processing a SAM.gov registration request can take more than a week, so USAC recommends schools, libraries, and service providers who are invoicing on behalf of applicants begin the process early.
Questions?
Please reach out if you have any questions about how to take advantage of the ECF, including potential plans, or any other questions that haven’t been answered yet. Forward this email to your team, colleagues, or administrators. Thank you for reading!
Image credit to Efi Chalikopoulou for Vox.com