E-rate Next Steps/FY 2022 Data Analysis
April 8, 2022
Attached: Incomplete 471s FY 2022
Attached: FRN Simple Data
Attached: FY 2022 Form 471 Detailed Data as of April 5
Congratulations to the 911 PA schools and libraries that submitted their FY 2022 Form 471s by the E-rate deadline! Outstanding job, everyone!
For the E-rate data junkies among us, here’s a breakdown of our stats:
Pennsylvania:
- Total Requested: $70,139,628.11 ($69,827,232.83 in FY 2021 and $61,223,923.22 in FY 2020)
- 2237 Total FRNs (2299 in FY 2021 and 2553 in FY 2020)
- 1606 Form 471s (1565 in FY 2021 and 1702 in FY 2020)
- Filed by 911 PA entities (889 in FY 2021)
- Category 1 Requested: $35,884,472 ($36,124,973 in FY 2021)
- Category 1 Form 471s: 1081 (1067 in FY 2021)
- Category 1 FRNs: 1438 (1448 in FY 2021)
- Average Category 1 Discount: 68%
- Category 2 Requested: $34,255,153 ($33,702,259 in FY 2021)
- Category 2 Form 471s: 525 (498 in FY 2021)
- Category 2 FRNs: 799 (851 in FY 2021)
- Average Category 2 Discount: 66%
Nationwide: 34,849 Form 471s were submitted, requesting $3,153,124,510. By comparison, 35,577 Form 471s were submitted in FY 2021, requesting $3.02B.
- C1: $1,642,662,922
- C2: $1,511,461,588
What are the next immediate steps?
1. Discard Unwanted 471s: Attached is a list of Form 471s that were started and then not submitted (abandoned). If your name is on the list, I recommend that you discard the form so the EPC system doesn’t continue to send you annoying reminders. To do this, log into EPC, find the incomplete in your Tasks tab at the top of the page, click on the Task, then click ‘Discard Form’ in the bottom left corner of the page. Note: The list does not include nonpublic schools because I don’t have access to that data.
2. Review Your Submitted Data: Attached are two Excel files. The first is a simple (one-tab) file showing all FRNs submitted by April 5 (the last day to submit a 471 and be considered for FCC waiver), including the current status of your application. The second is a very detailed (5-tabs) file that shows every piece of data submitted on the Form 471, including FRN Line Items, Recipients of Service, Discount Calculations, etc. Please open one of these files, filter by your entity’s name, and make sure that your data is accurate (hint: if you want to download a PDF of your application, click on the hyperlinked 471 # in the Basic Information tab of the detailed file). If you need to make any corrections to the data you may do so by using the RAL Modification Process up until the date you receive your Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL), however with PIA reviews happening so quickly this year, it’s very important that any corrections/changes be made ASAP so the PIA reviewers can have them in-hand during their review. Note: You can also use the RAL to add an FRN or increase your funding request, but you will be asked to show documentation dated prior to the date you certified your Form 471 to substantiate the request.
A RAL Modification Guide and Instructions are available at: http://e-ratepa.org/?p=34136. The RAL Modification Process also should be used if you wish to cancel an FRN or an entire Form 471.
3. Prepare for PIA Review: USAC’s PIA (Program Integrity Assurance) Team is busy reviewing applications and if they have questions or need additional information, they’ll reach out to you via e-mail. The e-mail will contain a link to the PIA Inquiry but before you can see their questions, you must first log into EPC, THEN click on the link in the e-mail. Then click on “Respond to Inquiries” in the top right corner of the page, then click on the name of the inquiry (it will be hyperlinked). Complete instructions for navigating the PIA Review Process can be found at: http://e-ratepa.org/?p=34105.
4. When Will USAC Begin Issuing FY 2022 Funding Commitment Decisions? I expect the first wave of funding commitment letters to be issued in mid-late April. FCDLs are released on a weekly basis until all applications have been decided, with a goal of releasing all FCDLs by September 1.
Congratulations, E-raters! I’m so so proud of you!
– Julie
Julie Tritt Schell
Pennsylvania E-rate Coordinator
717-730-7133 – o
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org