BEAR Migration Date Set/EPC Unavailable for 1 Week

September 18, 2023

USAC has announced they will be migrating the Form 472 BEAR from the stand-alone BEAR function into the EPC system beginning October 31, 2023.  The last date to file a BEAR using the current method will be Monday, October 30 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern (this is also the FY 2022 BEAR deadline for recurring services – see below).  After that, EPC will be unavailable from October 31 – November 6 during which time no EPC functions can be performed, including filing Form 470’s, appeals, Form 486s, Service Substitutions, Form 500’s, SPIN Changes, and Form 472 BEARs, etc.  However, applicants will still have access to the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) portal during this time.

The vendor SPI system, and all associated vendor EPC functions, also will be unavailable during that week.

After the invoicing system migration is completed, the first disbursements from the new EPC invoicing system are expected to be on November 9, 2023.

Here is a helpful graphic that explains the cut-over plan:

As soon as I have access to the new BEAR system in EPC, I’ll send you a new Form 472 BEAR Filing Guide and schedule a training session.

Please don’t forget that Monday, October 30, 2023 is the Form 472 BEAR deadline for FY 2022 recurring services.   Here’s a list of FY 2022 FRNs and their filing deadlines:  http://e-ratepa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/FY-2022-BEAR-Statuses-as-of-Sept-11-2023.xlsx and a BEAR Filing Guide.

Also, if you were planning to file any Form 470’s the first week in November, you should be sure to file them before October 31 or build an extra week into your schedule because EPC will not be available again until November 7.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

– Julie

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