May 2024 E-rate Update

May 23, 2024

Good morning, E-raters! I hope everyone is having a wonderful spring! Below are several E-rate updates and reminders…

FCC to vote on Cyber Security Pilot: The FCC will vote on the $200 million Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program at their June 6 meeting. Because stakeholders have several days to seek modifications to the draft Order, I will wait and provide a summary of the Program after the final rules are adopted. I expect the application window for this pilot program will open in the fall.

FY 2022 Extended BEAR Deadline – May 28 – Attached is a list of PA FRNs that have quickly approaching FY 2022 BEAR deadlines where no disbursements have yet been made. Most of these FRNs had earlier BEAR deadlines that were extended and thus no additional extension options are available. Please review the attached list to determine if you must submit a BEAR by the May 28 deadline, if you received the approved equipment or service.

Annual E-rate Survey – A nationwide E-rate survey is being conducted by Funds for Learning seeking schools’ and libraries’ opinions and experiences with the E-rate program. I hope you will take a few minutes and complete the survey, anonymously, if you choose. At the close of the survey, the results will be tabulated into a comprehensive report that will then be shared with the FCC, USAC and the general public as it is each year. The survey is available at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/24erate.

Out of Window Waivers – If you are one of the 26 PA applicants that filed late Form 471s by April 10 and requested a window waiver from the FCC, you will receive an e-mail from the FCC with an attachment of their appeal decisions for that month, showing if your waiver was approved or denied. Many of you have already received approval, but if you are still waiting, the FCC issues their appeal/waiver decisions on the last business day of each month. If your waiver request is approved, the FCC will direct USAC to move your application to “in window” status and proceed with PIA review in the normal review queue. There’s nothing you have to do except wait to see if PIA has questions for you in the coming weeks/months.

Status of FY 2024 Funding Commitments: As of May 23, 67% of PA funding requests have been decided. PIA continues to actively review applications so if your application has not yet been decided, be checking your e-mail for PIA inquiries. If you need assistance with understanding the PIA review process or where to find the PIA reviewer’s questions, please see: https://e-ratepa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/PIA-Review-Guide-FY-2024.pdf. If you need assistance with responding to a PIA inquiry, please e-mail me.

Remember to File Your FY 2024 Form 486: The next step after receiving a FCDL (funding commitment decision letter) is to file the Form 486. It’s a very easy form to submit and I strongly encourage you to file it on the day you receive the FCDL so you don’t forget. Two reminders: Check the ‘Early Filing Box’ if filing the 486 before July 31, and be careful not to be “click happy” on the CIPA certifications. Full instructions on the Form 486 can be found at: https://e-ratepa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Form-486-Filing-Guide-FY-2024.pdf. I’ll send out a 486 reminder in a few months with the list of applicants that haven’t yet filed.

Reminder to Label and Inventory Category 2 Equipment: If you applied for Category 2 discounts this year, don’t forget to label the equipment before it’s installed, and add the equipment to your asset inventory. For more details on these requirements, in addition to other C2-related issues, please review the Category 2 Purchasing Guide, available at: https://e-ratepa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Equipment-Purchasing-Guide-FY-2024.pdf.

Reminder if You Want Discounted Bills: Be sure to tell your vendors if you want to receive discounted bills where the vendor then seeks reimbursement. If you prefer to pay your vendor invoices in full and then submit the Form 472 BEAR to seek reimbursement, that’s your option, but you must stick with one invoicing method or the other for the entire funding year for each FRN.

FY 2023 and FY 2024 BEAR Reimbursement Filings: Starting July 1, 2024, applicants can begin to submit BEARs for FY 2024 equipment purchases that were made on or after April 1, 2024. This is also about the time when applicants who did not receive discounted vendor bills for FY 2023 will begin to submit those BEARs as well. I’ll provide more detailed information on filing that form in the coming weeks, but I wanted you to be aware that this date is approaching.

Changing EPC Account Administrators/Adding New EPC Users: Summer often brings staffing changes and it’s important that the new staff get set up in EPC so they are prepared to file E-rate forms as soon as they’re due. Hints: Only AA’s can create new EPC user accounts and assign User ‘permissions.’ Only AAs can transfer their AA ‘credentials’ to another existing EPC User. If the AA is the new staff member and the previous AA is no longer with the school or library, contact CSC at 888-203-8100 and they will set up a new EPC AA account (only CSC can do this). For a complete guide on how to add/remove EPC users, or change AAs, see: https://e-ratepa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/EPC-How-To-Guide-as-of-Nov-2023.pdf. Also, if you need any new E-rate contacts added to the PA E-rate Listserve, please e-mail me their contact information.

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