Deadline to Submit FY 2018 Internal Connections BEARs

January 21, 2020

Attached: FY 2018 BEARs Due as of Jan 20

~ Deadline is Jan 28, 2020
~ Request Extension Now if Needed ~
~ List of All Entities with Jan 28 BEAR Deadline is Attached ~

Although we usually associate October 28 as the BEAR deadline, the BEAR deadline for NON-RECURRING services (internal connections) is Tuesday, January 28, 2020 (because applicants have until September 30 to purchase/install internal connections equipment, thus making the invoicing deadline later than the recurring services invoice deadline).   Attached is a list of all FRNs for which no funding has been disbursed for FY 2018 and that have approaching an invoice deadline of next week.  Don’t forget – BEARs are filed in the legacy system at: https://www2.sl.universalservice.org/bear/login.aspx, NOT in EPC.  The FY 2018 BEAR Filing Guide is available at:  http://e-ratepa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Form-472-BEAR-Filing-Guide-FY-2018.pdf

There are several steps you must take before the Form 472 BEAR can be submitted. Please review each step and you will be successful in obtaining your reimbursements.

1. ARE YOU ON THE LIST?  Look at the list at the bottom of this message. If your school or library is listed, open the attached spreadsheet for details about which funding requests are affected.  If your name is on the list but you’re 100% positive that you already paid your vendor in full, it’s likely hat the vendor just has not invoiced USAC yet.  In that case, you may want to request the extension to give the vendor more time to invoice.  If your name is not on the list below, you can disregard this message.
2. DID YOUR VENDOR SUBMIT THEIR 2018 FORM 473 SPAC?  If Column H (Vendor SPAC Filed?) shows ‘No’, you must contact your vendor prior to submitting the BEAR and tell the vendor they must submit the SPAC ASAP.  This is an annual form that every vendor must submit and without it, no BEARs that list that SPIN will be paid.  Direct the vendor to: http://e-ratepa.org/?p=20121 for more information.
3. DID YOU SUBMIT THE FORM 486 FOR THE FRN?  If Column I (Form 486 Filed?) shows ‘No’, be sure to file the 486 at least 24-hours before you submit the BEAR.  If you know your 486 was submitted, contact USAC at 888-203-8100 to find out the status.
4. DO YOU HAVE A BEAR PIN?  BEARs (Form 472s) are NOT filed in EPC; they are filed in the legacy system at: https://www2.sl.universalservice.org/bear/login.aspx.  To gain entry into the old system, you must use your E-rate PIN — not your EPC credentials.  If you had an old E-rate PIN but can’t find it, contact CSB at 888-203-8100 and they will e-mail you a new one.  If you don’t have an E-rate PIN, complete the short PIN Request template at: http://www.usac.org/_res/documents/sl/xls/PIN-request-template.xlsx and then upload it into EPC by creating a Customer Service Case.  USAC will then e-mail you a new PIN.  PINs are no longer mailed!
5. DO YOU HAVE AN APPROVED 498 ON FILE WITH USAC?  The 498 provides USAC with the banking information so that your BEAR reimbursements can be directly deposited into your account.  Before you file the BEAR, you must have an approved Form 498.  Most PA applicants now have approved 498s on file with USAC, so there’s no need to submit this form again.  Once it’s on file, it stays on file until you need to change any of your banking information.   The 498 is not filed annually.  To determine if you have an approved Form 498, log into EPC > Records > Form 498s > Click on 498 if one is showing to see the Status.  If no 498 is showing, then there isn’t one on file with USAC.  Refer to this guide if you need help:  http://e-ratepa.org/?p=13701.
6. DO YOU NEED MORE TIME?  Applicants may request (and will automatically receive) a single 120-day invoice deadline to file the BEAR, but the request must be submitted by the invoice deadline.  There are no exceptions to this deadline, so when in doubt, it’s best to request!  You cannot request more than one extension. To request an extension, see: http://e-ratepa.org/?p=27331.

If you have any questions about the FY 2018 Invoice Deadlines or completing the BEAR, please contact me at jtschell@comcast.net.

– Julie

PA Schools and Libraries With January 28, 2020 BEAR Deadlines:

Julie Tritt Schell

PA E-rate Coordinator

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