Happy New Year, E-raters!
January 11, 2024
I hope everyone had an awesome (and healthy) holiday break and are ready to continue the FY 2024 E-rate application process! Here’s a quick reminder of what you should be doing now and other timely E-rate updates:
Last Day to Update EPC Profiles is Tomorrow – Friday, January 12: If you haven’t yet done so, be sure to update your enrollment and NSLP data (or CEP%) in EPC so your discount can be updated. This is required to be done annually. Also, if you are applying for Category 2 in FY 2024 and your current district-wide enrollment is higher than what’s currently showing in your C2 budget calculations, be sure to update your Category 2 enrollment as well. Instructions on how to do both updates are available at: http://e-ratepa.org/?p=35241.
Form 471 window opens January 17: The Form 471 Window will open on January 17 and will close on March 27. If you have an existing service in a multi-year contract (no 470 needed), or have already completed your bidding and signed a signed vendor contract, or if you’re using the CABIO Bidding Exemption Option, you can file your Form 471 as soon as the window opens on January 17! The only anticipated changes to the Form 471 for FY 2024 will be minor tweaks related to school bus Wi-Fi. I will send an updated Form 471 Guide in a few weeks, but in the meantime, please use the FY 2023 resources for your FY 2024 filings.
Posting Category 1 Form 470’s: If you need to competitively bid a recurring service, time is running out to post your Form 470. How do you know if you have to bid? Here’s a reminder:
1) If a service is covered on a Month-to-Month basis (meaning no contract exists – these are mostly cable modem-type services) AND your services do not qualify for the CABIO Bidding Exemption Option;
2) At the beginning of any new contract. Note: If you posted a Form 470 in a previous year, and then signed a multi-year contract that expires on or after June 30, 2025, you are not required to file a Form 470 for FY 2024.
3) If you’re upgrading service and the upgrades and associated prices are not included in the original contract.
A rebidding status list, based on the contract expiration dates you listed on the FY 2023 Form 471, is available at: http://e-ratepa.org/?p=35117.
Resources for School Bus Wi-Fi Bidding: If you will be seeking E-rate funding for school bus Wi-Fi equipment or services for FY 2024, competitive bidding is required. Form 470 bidding instructions and an RFP template is available at: http://e-ratepa.org/?p=35259. In addition, a new bus Wi-Fi bid evaluation template is available at: http://e-ratepa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Bid-Evaluation-Matrix-Template-Bus-Wi-Fi.xlsx (please customize all of the templates, as needed, for your specific situation). To learn more about eligibility and rules related to this new initiative, see: http://e-ratepa.org/?p=35231.
Deadline to File BEARs for FY 2022 Non-Recurring Services/Equipment is January 29: There are many entities that have unreimbursed funds from FY 2021 and FY 2022 for non-recurring services or equipment. Check and see if you are on this list and if so, determine if you purchased the equipment or services by the required deadlines, and paid your vendor in full. If so, then file the BEAR to seek reimbursement by the deadline. If you received the equipment or services but only paid the vendor for the non-discounted portion, please remind your vendor that they should submit their SPI to seek reimbursement by the deadline. If you did not purchase any or all of the equipment or services, file a Form 500 to reduce your commitment which will automatically reinstate those funds into your Category 2 budget!
Want to Comment on FCC’s Cybersecurity Pilot? If you are interested in submitting comments to the FCC related to their new Cybersecurity Pilot initiative, comments are due on or before January 29, 2024 and reply comments are due on or before February 27, 2024. To submit comments, I strongly encourage you to first read the NPRM, then upload your comments on the FCC’s filing site at: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/standard. The FCC will review the public comments and then release a final Order (maybe in March/April?) that will establish the dates for the 60-day Pilot Application Window to submit the new Form 484. Within 90 days following the Form 484 deadline, the FCC will review all applications and select Pilot Participants.
Community Facilities Grant for Anchor Institutions: The PA Broadband Authority (PBDA) has recently released guidelines for an exciting new grant - The Multi-Purpose Community Facilities Program - geared specifically to help anchor institutions (schools, libraries, etc.) and local governments construct, purchase or improve facilities that are or will be open to the public and will directly enable work, education, and health monitoring. FAQs, a recorded webinar and office hours will be announced soon. In the meantime, if you’ve read the guidelines and still have questions, please direct them to pbda_capitalprojectsfund@pa.gov.
– Julie
Julie Tritt Schell
PA E-rate Coordinator
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org