Webinar 6/27: What To Do After Getting "Funded"
Official Webinar: “Beginning E-rate Services”
Recommended for all E-rate administrators.
This Tuesday, June 27, USAC will host a Beginning E-Rate Services webinar, giving schools a high-level overview of the next steps they need to take after receiving an E-rate Funding Commitment for equipment and/or services.
The webinar is expected to review Form 486, which confirms that services have started and that applicants are compliant (or will soon be) with CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act). Read more about the Form 486 and CIPA below!
Competitive Bidding (Form 470) for Funding Year 2024 starts soon!
If your Internet contract expires 6/30/2024, then now is the time to start working on procuring a new contract.
Beginning July 1, schools and libraries can start the competitive bidding process (posting a Form 470) for Funding Year 2024 (7/1/2024 thru 6/30/2025).
We recommend starting the bidding process as early as possible so that applicants are prepared to file Form 471 funding requests as soon as the application window opens each January.
For projects regarding special construction and Idaho’s state match grant, please reach out to Daniel Vogt for more information at dvogt@sde.idaho.gov, or schedule a Zoom call at your convenience:
NOTE: This summer the School Broadband Office is transitioning from the State Department of Education (SDE) to the Office of the State Board of Education (OSBE). We are actively working on updated resources that will be available on the new website.
Check Your Category 2 Budget With This Free Tool
There are two funding cycles left before Category 2 budgets resets (eligible funding requests under Cat 2 include hardware, access points, managed services, and more). Applicants can easily confirm their remaining Category 2 budget using a free tool provided by FundsForLearning.com.
The tool relies on open data made available by USAC and is offered as a free tool to applicants as a way to more easily browse their E-rate data.
E-rate Survey: Submit Your Feedback
From Fundsforlearning.com: Please take a moment to complete the 2023 Applicant Survey and contribute to the future of the E-rate program today.
Individual responses are confidential and kept anonymous. After the survey closes, Funds For Learning will submit the results to the FCC and share them with the public. By sharing your views you can help improve the application process. It is your personal feedback that will make the difference.
Form 486 → Receive Funding
Once 471 applications are “Funded,” the next step to complete is the Form 486. This must be completed in order to receive E-rate reimbursement.
The Form 486 confirms:
The “Service Start Date” of the service within the new Funding Year
Funding Year 2023 starts 7-1-2023, and ends 6-30-2024.
That the applicant is compliant with CIPA.
Deadlines
Deadline is 120 days after… (whichever is later):
a) the date of the FCDL (Funding Commitment Decision Letter)
b) the Service Start Date (SSD) within the Funding Year
must be between 7/1/2023 and 6/30/2024
For services currently in use, the SSD is July 1.
For one-time purchases, it would be considered the installation/turn-up date
You can file Form 486 early 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.