File for Extension Now If You Haven’t Received FY 2015 BEAR Payment

October 26, 2016

~ Absolute Deadline is THIS Friday ~

The FY 2015 invoice deadline for recurring services is this Friday, October 28.  This Friday is ALSO the deadline to request an extension.  USAC cannot grant any extension request that is submitted after 11:59 p.m. on Friday.  Therefore, I strongly recommend that everyone who hasn’t received their FY 2015 BEAR funding for recurring services request an extension – even if you’ve filed your BEAR but haven’t yet been paid.  There is absolutely no harm in requesting an extension and then not needing it.  Attached is a list of all FY 2015 applicants that haven’t received reimbursement yet for recurring services, along with the invoice deadline date.  Note: If you filed an extension request via Submit a Question, it may still be listed as 10/28/2016 because it hasn’t yet been processed (you will receive an approval e-mail soon).

HOW TO REQUEST AN INVOICE DEADLINE EXTENSION:

If you have a PIN: Request the invoice deadline extension online to receive instant approval.  Must log into the Online BEAR System to submit the extension request (http://www2.sl.universalservice.org/bear/login.aspx).

If you don’t have a PIN: You must request the extension using Submit a Question http://www.slforms.universalservice.org/EMailResponse/EMail_Intro.aspx.  Under ‘Topic Inquiry’ select “Invoice Deadline Extension Request” > Select “Other”  > Complete the information cover page, and then in the text box, list the FRN (or multiple FRNs) for which you need an extension.  FRN numbers are included in the attached spreadsheet.

There are several things that you need in order to file the FY 2015 BEAR and if you don’t have all of these as of today, YOU SHOULD FILE AN INVOICE DEADLINE EXTENSION REQUEST.

Approved Form 498 (Direct Deposit Banking Form) – This takes about 2 weeks to get approved.  Check the status here:  http://www.usac.org/sl/tools/498-ID-Status.aspx (give it a minute to load and then use Control F to search for your BEN on the list).  Note:  Certified means submitted, not approved.  If you submitted the 498, be sure to also go to this site to upload a copy of your voided check: http://efileweb.usac.org/ContributorManagement/V1/BankValidation.  An approval e-mail will be sent about 4 days after you upload the check.  This form only needs to be submitted once – not annually.

BEAR PIN – If you don’t have a PIN to access the BEAR Form in the Legacy System, you must request one from USAC.  BEAR PINs take several days to be e-mailed from USAC.  Instructions for requesting PINs:  http://www.usac.org/sl/tools/forms/pin.aspx.

Below is a list of entities that must file their Invoice Deadline Extension Requests by this Friday, October 28. There may be some entities listed that already filed the request, but it hasn’t yet been processed by USAC.  If your entity’s name is on the list below, open the attachment to see details of which FRNs are affected.

Julie Tritt Schell

PA E-rate Coordinator

717-730-7133 – o
717-730-9060 – f
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org

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