FY 2021 Form 471 Filing Window Dates Announced
December 22, 2020
Attached: Annual Application Process Chart FY 2021 updated
Attached: Timeline 2019-2021 updated
Form 471 Window: January 15 – March 25
Admin Window: Now – January 13
We have the dates! USAC has just announced the FY 2021 window dates and thus, your E-rate timetable can be set. Attached are two graphics to help you keep track of the funding year milestone dates (one shows Funding Years 2019 – 2021 and the other shows an overview of just Funding Year 2021). Here’s what you should be doing and by when:
Updating EPC Profiles/Category 2 Enrollment Data – The period before the Form 471 window opens when schools and libraries make sure their EPC profiles are up to date is called the Admin Window. The Admin Window deadline is January 13. Therefore, from now until January 13, public and nonpublic schools must update their EPC profiles if they’re using this year’s enrollment/NSLP data, libraries must update their square footage if they’ve added space, and obtain E-rate entity numbers for any new schools, libraries and non-instructional facilities. After this date, the EPC profile data will be locked down and cannot be edited. The Guide to Updating EPC Profiles and draft enrollment/NSLP data is available at http://e-ratepa.org/?p=32887.
Form 470s – If you haven’t yet posted your Form 470 for services that must be competitively bid for FY 2021, you still have a few weeks to do so. Although the Form 471 deadline is March 25, and therefore the last possible date to file the Form 470 is technically February 25, applicants – especially public schools — should have your 470’s released ASAP (no later than the first week in January) so you can take the contracts to your February board meeting(s) for approval.
Form 471s – Although the Form 471 deadline is March 25, I encourage everyone to file as early as possible in the Form 471 window. For contracts that have already been signed, MTM services where vendors have been selected, or multi-year contracts signed in previous years, filing when the window opens is a great idea to be at the top of the list when they review applications. USAC has a big goal each year to have a large first wave, so the earlier your Form 471 is submitted, the better chance you’ll have of being in Wave 1.
If you have any questions about the window filing dates or the admin window, please let me know. Form 471 training will be scheduled in January!
And finally, to my big E-rate family, I know this year has been incredibly difficult in so many ways. Your herculean efforts to educate our kids and keep them safe will be remembered for decades to come and I offer to you my profound thanks. From my family to you and your family, we wish you a warm and healthy holiday season, and hope you can find a few hours to relax.
Your friend,
– Julie
Julie Tritt Schell
Pennsylvania E-rate Coordinator
717-730-7133 – o
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org