Fall E-rate Training Workshops Scheduled

October 18, 2021

On behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, I’m pleased to announce this year’s E-rate trainings for both returning (veteran) and beginner applicants as we pivot to applying for E-rate Funding Year 2022.  Trainings will be conducted virtually again this year and as always, archives of the PP presentations will be available at https://e-ratepa.org/?page_id=745 for later viewing.  Please note:  These trainings are for school and library officials only (no vendors).

Veteran Applicants – Kicking Off FY 2022!
There will be a 1.5 hour workshop on Thursday, October 21 at 11:00 for PA applicants who are already familiar with E-rate (our “veterans”) to kick off the new filing season.  Please join me to learn what’s new for Funding Year 2022, as well as reminders of what’s still needed to be done for FY 2020 and FY 2021.

Register Here:  https://cciu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwofuipqDktHNXsAcoTd0CwyH6DTtGQvCt9

Topics:

• FY 2022 Anticipated Window Dates and Suggested Filing Timing
• Demo of New Form 470 for FY 2022
• Which FRNs Need to Rebid for FY 2022
• EPC School Profile Updates (known as the “Admin Window”) – Changes due to NSLP/COVID
• Category 2 Budgets and Where to Research What $ is Remaining for Your School/Library
• What to Do if Exercising Contract Extension
• FY 2020 Form 472 BEAR and FY 2021 Form 486 Deadlines
• Best Resources to Use
• If you have other topics you’d like to discuss, please include them in your registration.

Beginner Applicants – Let’s Learn E-rate!
There will be 3 beginners’ training workshops, each geared to a different type of applicant – public schools, nonpublic schools, and libraries.  Trainings will be super condensed and will last approx. 2 – 2.5 hours.  The only two prerequisites to attending beginners’ training are:  1) you be a true beginner, and 2) you become set up as a “User” in your school or library’s EPC account prior to training and have successfully logged into EPC. Only your school or library’s EPC Account Administrator (AA) can create a new User.  If you’re unsure who is your EPC AA or if they need assistance in creating a new User, contact USAC at 888-203-8100 for help with that process.   Please register with your entity type:

Topics:

• Entity Eligibility
• E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Overview
• Eligible Services
• Discount Calculations
• Category 2 Budget Calculations
• 12 Steps of E-rate
• E-rate General Filing Timeline
• Competitive Bidding
• Contracts
• Resources

If you have any questions about the trainings, please let me know.  I look forward to seeing new and old E-rate faces in the next few weeks!

— Julie

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