Important: Major Shutdown of USAC Website and E-rate Processing
Message Posted August 7, 2009

We were just notified by USAC that they will be conducting a massive IT upgrade and migration, during which time there will be a shut down of all application processing, invoice processing, and ability to submit online applications. Specific dates of the shutdown are not yet known, but we believe the shutdown will last 2-3 weeks and may take place on or around August 29 – September 14. Exact dates will be announced closer to the shutdown.

The general website will be available, but no functions of the website, including “apply online” functions and database tools, will work except for the reference area and static web pages. In other words, no BEARs, 470's or 486's will be able to be submitted during this period.

No actual forms will be changed during this IT migration and they have no plans to modify due dates for various forms (such as 486 or BEARs).

FY 2009 PIA reviews, Funding Commitment Letter releases, and Selective Reviews also will be suspended during the migration. FY 2008 BEAR processing may only be suspended for 1 week.

The biggest impact will be the ability to submit Form 470’s for FY 2010, particularly for applicants with long procurement windows or applicants also applying for PA eFund Grants. We have asked USAC will make available in spreadsheet format the data from Form 470’s that have been submitted prior to the shutdown in order for vendors to be able to view the information, albeit in static form. This would allow the Form 470 28-day clock to continue ticking. However, no new 470’s would be able to be submitted during the shutdown.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW

I strongly encourage everyone to submit their FY 2008 BEARs (Form 472s) and FY 2010 Form 470’s in the next 2 ½ weeks, particularly applicants that are applying for PA eFund Grants or applicants that have long procurement cycles. Also, if you have been contacted by PIA related to your FY 2009 application or if you are contacted by PIA in the next 2 weeks, you should provide the information to the reviewer ASAP so they can get your application processed and funded before the shutdown occurs.

I'll keep you posted as soon as additional details are known. In the meantime, file, file, file! And continue having a great summer!

-- Julie