Summer E-rate Checklist

To every administrator, technician, finance specialist, and other staff that support teachers, students, and patrons: THANK YOU for working so hard this school year!

Before you start your summer plans, please be sure to review this checklist to ensure your monthly Internet bills are fully reimbursed:

E-rate Checklist

Funding Year 2021 (ending 6/30/2022)

• You can file BEAR reimbursement forms monthly, quarterly, or however frequently you need to throughout the year.

• The deadline to file BEAR reimbursement requests is 120 days after:

  • Service Delivery Deadline (the last date to receive service) OR;

  • Date Form 486 Notification Letter OR;

  • Date of the approved post-commitment Revised Funding Commitment Decision Letter OR;

  • Date of an approved appeal Revised Funding Commitment Decision Letter on a previously denied or reduced funding request.

• WATCH: About the BEAR Reimbursement Form 472

Funding Year 2022 (beginning 7/1/2022)

Has your 471 application been funded yet?

• Yes, my applications have been funded.

  • Then you must file the Form 486 to indicate that services have started, and that your LEA is compliant with CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act)

    • WATCH: How to file Form 486

    • WATCH: CIPA Compliance

  • The deadline to file the 486 is 120 days after (whichever is later):

    • a) the date of the FCDL (Funding Commitment Decision Letter)

    • b) the service start date

      • Usually July 1 for services, but for one-time purchases it would be considered the installation/turn-up date

  • You can file an FCC Form 486 early (before services have started) if:

    • You have received your FCDL;

    • Your services will start in the month of July;

    • You can truthfully make all of the certifications on the form; and

    • You are filing the form on or before July 31.

• No, my applications are still pending.

  • Funding waves are often released on Fridays.

    • Note: As of May 19th, only 52% of all Idaho E-rate applications have been approved.

  • Check to see if there are any review requests on your 471 application. You should have received an email when they were created.

  • Contact your state E-rate Coordinator if you have concerns:

    • Schools: Daniel Vogt; dvogt@sde.idaho.gov; (208) 332-6993

      • Click here to schedule a call with Daniel Vogt

    • Libraries: Doug Baker; dbaker@libraries.idaho.gov; (208) 639-4173.

State Reimbursement Checklist

• SEND invoices from January 2022 to May 2022 to broadband@sde.idaho.gov

  • If you are unable to submit them all before June 15th, please contact broadband@sde.idaho.gov with information so we can assist.

• SEND new contracts, renewals, or ISP terms that are effective July 1st, 2022

• SEND technical contact information to setup/update bandwidth usage reporting.

  • Idaho § 33-5604 (3) writes that school and libraries receiving broadband reimbursements shall, to the best of their ability, assist the Department of Education in reporting their LEA’s bandwidth utilization.

  • Please note that the data only captures download and upload speeds and no other information.

That’s all for now! You can learn more about the Idaho Department of Education’s Broadband Program here: https://www.sde.idaho.gov/tech-services/broadband/index.html

Click here to schedule a call with Daniel Vogt