FY 2022 Form 471 Deadline is Tomorrow!

March 21, 2022

~ Contact me ASAP if you can’t meet the March 22 deadline ~

By my calculations, about 147 PA entities still have to file before tomorrow’s midnight deadline.  If you haven’t yet started the 471, please do so today!  Although I haven’t heard of much slow-down in the last week, in prior years the EPC system started to crawl from about 11:30 – , so you may wish to consider filing earlier or later in the day.  Also, there were some issues with independent library applications receiving error messages but those have been resolved.  If you cannot make the March 22 deadline, please contact me as soon as possible so we can discuss your options.  Below are my final words of wisdom, links to the helpful Filing Guides, and the link to today’s AMA Zoom.

Final words of wisdom:

1 – You must file a Form 471 every year to request funding – even if you’re in a multi-year contract.  There’s no such thing as a multi-year E-rate funding commitment.

2 – Support SKUs for Internal Connections must be filed on a separate FRN.

3 – Don’t use the Save & Share or Send for Certification Buttons on the Form 471.  It will take the application out of your EPC portal and send to all other EPC Users for your entity.  You’ll find yourself frantic wondering why your application disappeared.

4 – There’s no way to upload a contract amendment into EPC.  Don’t create a new Contract Record.  You can mention in the FRN narrative if your contract was amended and PIA will reach out for a copy of the amendment if they need it.

Ask me Anything Zoom Session:  Today is the final AMA Zoom Session, from 1 – 2.   There will be no formal presentation, just an open dialogue for you to ask any questions you have about E-rate and your applications.

Join at:  https://cciu.zoom.us/j/92092768246?pwd=WkhkWGNnMUU2dmJGYUtFTjV2N3RLdz09

Topic-Related Guides and Additional Guidance:

• Reviewing and Evaluating Vendor Bids/Proposals – FY 2022
• Contract Guidance for E-rate Eligible Services/Equipment – FY 2022
• Creating New Contract Records Guide FY 2022
• Creating New Contract Records for PEPPM Guide FY 2022
• CABIO Internet Bidding Exemption Guide
• Category 1 Filing Guide FY 2022
• Category 2 Filing Guide FY 2022
• Bulk Upload Tool for Internal Connections FRNs
• Navigating the PIA Review Process – FY 2022

FY 2022 Status of Filings as of 3/20/2022:

• 1624 FRNs filed by 750 PA entities (1105 FRNs for C1, filed by 687 unique entities)
• 865 FRNs are currently in ‘Wave Ready’ Status!

By comparison, last year, 2403 FRNs were filed (total) by 912 PA entities.  Of those, 1499 were for Category 1, filed by 834 unique entities.

Happy Filing and Spring!

– Julie

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