E-rate Assistance this Weekend and Next Week
March 21, 2024
~ So far, 1327 FRNs filed by 624 PA applicants ~
I know many of you (~ 260) are working hard on your Form 471s to get them filed by the Wednesday, March 27 deadline. Several last-minute, important notes:
1. If you cannot make the March 27 deadline, you may file a late (“out of window”) Form 471 and seek a waiver from the FCC. As long as the Form 471 is filed on or before April 10, 2024, the FCC is likely to approve your waiver request and instruct USAC to treat your application as timely filed. You MUST have the Form 471 filed by April 10 and then you can submit the waiver request after that. I will be sending a waiver letter template and FCC waiver filing instructions after the Form 471 deadline.
2. Be sure to review the Top 34 C1/C2/General Form 471 Filing Tips if you have questions. The answers can usually be found there!
3. If you need help with Bid Evaluations, Contract Records, Submitting Form 471s, Modifying or Cancelling Form 471s, be sure to refer to the helpful guides at: http://e-ratepa.org/?page_id=754.
4. Starting Saturday, USAC’s Customer Support Center (CSC) will be open the following days/extended hours to assist applicants with last-minute questions:
• Sunday, March 24 – 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monday, March 25 – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 26 – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 27 – 8 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
To reach CSC, call 888-203-8100. Note: Call volumes are significantly higher during the last few days of the filing window, so you will generally reach an agent more quickly if you call this weekend or weekdays before 11:00 a.m.
5. If your service provider has applied for but does not yet have a SPIN number, you can enter the Interim SPIN 143666666 on your Contract Record or Form 471 as a placeholder so you can timely file your application before the March 27 deadline. After the SPIN has been received, you can then update the application with the actual SPIN using the RAL Modification Process or during the PIA review of your application.
I will also be checking e-mail this weekend if you have any questions.
Happy filing!
– Julie
Julie Tritt Schell
Pennsylvania E-rate Coordinator
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org