July 2024 E-rate/ECF/CPP Update

July 17, 2024

Happy July, E-raters!  I hope you’re having a great summer so far and staying healthy and cool.  I have some awesome news and important updates/reminders about E-rate, the Cybersecurity Pilot Program, and the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF).  As always, please let me know if you have any questions.

FCC to Vote on Wi-Fi Hot Spot E-rate Eligibility

Tomorrow, the FCC is scheduled to vote to add hot spots as E-rate eligible for students and library patrons with unmet needs while off campus, beginning in E-rate Funding Year 2025.  We don’t know the final details of the FCC’s Order yet, but we believe there will be several added layers of conditions, including a maximum number allowed per school and library, and a per device/plan funding cap.  Unlike ECF hotspots, competitive bidding and E-rate discounts will apply to E-rate hot spots.  As soon as the final order is released (which often takes a week or two after the vote), I’ll prepare a summary to share with you.

FY 2025 E-rate Form 470 To Be Released Late

The FY 2025 E-rate Form 470 (bidding form) will be released late this year, instead of the normal July 1 date.  Presuming the FCC will approve the hot spot eligibility, the final rules must be published in the Federal Register for 30 days.  After that, we expect USAC will add that new service/equipment option to the Form 470 and release the FY 2025 after that.  If you have a project for which you must release an RFP/Form 470 before the FY 2025 Form 470 is available, you may use the existing FY 2024 Form 470 and include a comment in the narrative that explains that it is being used in lieu of the FY 2025.  You cannot use the FY 2024 Form 470 to bid hot spots, however.

Cybersecurity Pilot Program (CPP) Updates:

Error Messages Logging in to EPC

I have received multiple reports of applicants receiving this error message when trying to log into EPC:  “AuthSDKError: Unable to parse a token from the URL”.   USAC is working to resolve the error, but in the meantime, I’ve heard applicants have had success using Control F5 to access the site.

Emergency Connectivity Fund Invoice Deadline

The deadline to invoice USAC for the Emergency Connectivity Fund is August 29, 2024.  This date applies to most ECF Window 3 funding requests, although there are a few FRNs from Windows 1 and 2 that can still submit invoices.  For a list of all ECF FRNs marked as BEAR, with unexpired invoice deadlines and funding remaining, see: https://e-ratepa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/PA-FRNs-With-Remaining-Funds-as-of-July-17.xlsx.  This deadline will not be extended until October (like they did with the August 2023 ECF invoice deadline) because of the Congressional recission requirement.  Therefore, it’s extremely important that you submit your ECF invoice to USAC as soon as possible.  Reminder: Because of the recission requirement, USAC cannot approve any SPIN changes, invoice mode changes or appeals.  Also, it’s too late to actually purchase equipment and services.

FY 2025 is Final Year for Current Category 2 Budget Cycle

The final year of the current Category 2 Budget Cycle (2021 – 2025) is next funding year – FY 2025.  Unused C2 budget funds from this cycle will not be carried forward to the next budget cycle; however, applicants will receive a new Category 2 budget that presumably will have a higher per pupil amount (schools) and higher square footage amount (libraries) and will be from FY 2025 – 2030).  I will be sending a “what’s left in your C2 budget” message in September but you’ll want to begin thinking whether and how you want to use these funds.  For those of you who want to know now what’s remaining in your C2 budget, go to:  https://opendata.usac.org/E-Rate/E-Rate-C2-Budget-Tool-FY2021-/8z69-hkn7 and use the filters on the right.

REMINDERS:

  • Reminder to File FY 2023 BEARs:  The deadline to file FY 2023 BEARs for recurring services is October 28, 2024.  For a status list of FY 2023 FRNs showing what’s required (if anything) as of July 10, see:  https://e-ratepa.org/?p=35572.
  • File FY 2024 BEARs beginning July 1, 2024:  If you’ve already purchased your FY 2024 C2 equipment and have received your FCDL, you can now file the BEAR to seek reimbursement for that funding.  Although the invoice deadline for FY 2024 FRNs is more than a year away, submit now and collect your reimbursement before you forget!
  • File Form 486s:  If you have received your FY 2024 FCDL and have not yet filed the Form 486, don’t forget this important step.  Although the deadline to submit is the end of October for most FRNs, you won’t be able to submit a BEAR or receive discounted bills until the 486 is submitted.  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.
  • 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.  
  • 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.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

– Julie

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

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