Friendly Reminders - August 9th 2021
1) The deadline to apply for the Emergency Connectivity Fund ends midnight, Friday August 13th. Applicants must register their entities on Sam.gov to receive funding, and complete their application through the EPC Administrator Portal as if they were completing other E-rate applications.
There is no competitive bidding required to apply for ECF funding, only that local and state procurement guidelines be followed.
The FCC has updated their FAQs with a list of common misconceptions about the ECF (full list linked below) starting with these important ones:
Misconception #1: Schools cannot apply for funds unless they have surveyed all parents to determine need.
This is false. Schools need only provide best estimates of unmet need in applying for ECF support. It is up to the school to determine how to estimate need – a school can choose to use a survey but is not required to use one.
Misconception #2: If schools have returned to in-class instruction for the upcoming school year, they are not eligible to participate.
This is false. Even if schools have returned to in-class instruction, they are eligible to seek Emergency Connectivity Fund support for unmet remote learning needs, such as broadband access for homework or lesson planning. Equipment and services provided to students or school staff who would otherwise lack sufficient access to connected devices and/or a broadband internet access connection while off campus are eligible for Emergency Connectivity Fund support.
Helpful links:
ECF Common Misconceptions
ECF FAQ (updated recently)
2) If you have received a Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) from USAC confirming your E-rate applications have been funded, please remember to file your Form 486.
The deadline to file the Form 486 is 120 days from either A) the date of the FCDL, or B) the service start date (whichever is later).
Helpful links:
Filing a Form 486
Have questions or need assistance? Please contact me by phone, email, or replying to this newsletter!
Daniel Vogt
208-332-6993
dvogt@sde.idaho.gov
https://www.sde.idaho.gov/tech-services/