Let’s Wrap Up FY 2018 and FY 2019!

September 30, 2019

~ And don’t forget to register for FY 2020 training! https://e-ratepa.org/?p=31847 ~

Happy Fall, E-raters!  Before we kick off E-rate Funding Year 2020, let’s wrap up some loose ends related to FY 2018 and FY 2019.  

– Funding Year 2018 –

• Don’t Forget to File FY 2018 BEARs:  FY 2018 officially ended June 30, 2019 for recurring services (mostly Category 1 and Basic Maintenance), and therefore applicants have until October 28, 2019 (120-days after June 30) to file BEARs for FRNs where their vendors did not provide discounted bills (in those cases, vendors file SPIs to seek reimbursements).  For non-recurring services/equipment (mostly Category 2 internal connections), applicants have until September 30, 2019 to purchase and install this equipment, and the deadline to file those BEARs will be January 28, 2020 (120 days after September 30).  Unsure whether you need to file a BEAR, or how to file the BEAR?  Please refer to this recent listserve message that shows all FY 2018 Funding Requests that have had no disbursements made yet (meaning 100% of your funding is still available).  The BEAR Filing Guide also is attached to that message.

• Need Extra Time to Purchase/Install FY 2018 Equipment?:  If you were funded for Category 2 equipment and have a valid reason why it has not yet been purchased and/or installed, you must request a Service Delivery Deadline Extension (SDDE) TODAY!  The deadline to file the SDDE is today, September 30, 2019, and must be filed using the Form 500 in EPC.   To see a list of possibly-affected entities, see https://e-ratepa.org/?p=31895.   Even if you have purchased the equipment but have not yet installed it, please request a Service Delivery Deadline Extension just to give yourself more time to install. 

– Funding Year 2019 – 

• Status of FY 2019 Funding Requests:  About 94% of all PA FY 2019 funding requests have been decided, which is great news.  Of the 53 applicants that haven’t yet been funded, it appears they are either regional consortia applications or applications where they applicant may have applied for more than their Category 2 budgets. 

• Don’t forget to file FY 2019 Form 486s – The Form 486 tells USAC that you are CIPA compliant and services have started, and is due no later than 120 days from the FCDL date or July 1, whichever is later.  The Form 486 deadline for applicants funded in waves 1 – 10 have a Form 486 deadline of October 28, 2019.  A list was sent to the listserve last week outlining all of the entities that have been funded for FY 2019 but who have not yet filed their Form 486.   See https://e-ratepa.org/?p=31886 for a copy of that message and the From 486 Filing Guide.  If your FRN is NOT on the list, it means it is still pending at USAC or you’ve already filed your 486.

If you have any questions about FY 2018 and FY 2019 remaining items, please don’t hesitate to contact me!  FY 2020 – Here we come!

— Julie

Julie Tritt Schell
PA E-rate Coordinator
717-730-7133 – o
717-730-9060 – f
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org