ECF Wave 4 Funding Recipients Announced!

November 9, 2021

Attached: ECF Wave 4

~  New PDE Accounting Code to Use for ECF ~

~ Reminder to Obtain Signed Unmet Needs Certifications ~

The 4th wave of ECF funding commitments have been released, including the attached list of 26 PA applicants.  The funding commitment decision letters (FCDLs) have been e-mailed to the ECF Form 471 contact and all other Users in the organization’s EPC portal.  Total funding awarded to PA applicants in this wave is $7,441,939 ($5,295,770 for equipment and $2,146,168 for services).

New PDE Accounting Code for ECF:  On 9/28, PDE released an updated chart of accounts to include the tracking of ECF funding.  The accounting code for ECF is 8747 (ARP ECF – Emergency Connectivity Fund).  Please share this with your business office so they are aware.

Unmet Needs Certifications:  Schools and libraries must obtain signed Unmet Needs Certifications when distributing devices/services to students, teachers or library patrons, under most circumstances.  Please refer to this message for complete details:  http://e-ratepa.org/?p=33555

FCDLs:  ECF FCDLs look almost exactly like E-rate FCDLs (see sample), except there are two additional pages that provide additional information about the reporting requirements for reporting executive compensation (through https://www.sam.gov) and subaward activity (through http://www.fsrs.gov) under the Transparency Act or FFATA/DATA Act) for award and subaward payments that equal or exceed $30,000.  Be sure to provide a copy of your FCDL to your federal coordinator and/or business office so they can properly report this federal funding.

BEAR Reimbursements:  The ECF Form 472 BEAR reimbursement form is now available and may be submitted now if you have received an ECF FCDL and the equipment or services have been received.   Please see the ECF BEAR Filing Guide at: http://e-ratepa.org/?p=33665 for assistance.

Appeals:  If you disagree with a funding decision, you have only 30 days from today to appeal (unlike E-rate which is 60 days).  Appeals must be filed in the ECF Portal by clicking on the Form 471 (My Forms and Requests), then Related Actions, then Create an Appeal

Post-Commitment Changes:  If you need to make changes to your application (post-commitment), you may do so in the ECF Portal by clicking on the Form 471 (My Forms and Requests), then Related Actions, then Create a Post-Commitment Request.  Here are the changes you can make:

• Change SPIN
• Change invoicing method (BEAR to SPI or SPI to BEAR)
• Change service and/or equipment
• Change service start or end date
• Cancel a committed funding request
• Reduce a funding amount on a committed request
• Update DUNS number, FCC Registration Number, or Tax ID EIN
• Update Unmet Needs

(Note:  If you haven’t yet been funded, but need to make changes to your application, select Related Actions, then Contact Reviewer to make pre-commitment modifications to your request.)

Congratulations to everyone who was funded in Wave 4!  If you’re keeping track, in Window 1, 76% of all FRNs have been decided so far (no commitments for Window 2 FRNs yet).   If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me!

– Julie

Julie Tritt Schell

Pennsylvania E-rate Coordinator
717-730-7133 – o
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org