E-Rate Updates & Reminders – Oct 2026

October 19, 2026

Good morning, E-Rate Community, and Happy Monday!
Please take a few minutes to review these updates and reminders to keep your filings on track.

• Register Now for Fall E-Rate Training – The Fall 2026 (FY2027) PA E-Rate trainings start this week, but you still have time to register!  Training workshops will include the annual veterans’ workshop, beginner training, and C1/C2 eligibility and Form 470 bidding training.  If you are new or newish to E-Rate, please plan on attending these training courses so you are prepared to begin FY 2027.  See the list of dates and register now at https://e-ratepa.org/?page_id=745.

• FY 2025 BEAR Reimbursement Filings for Recurring Services:  Applicants who did not receive discounted vendor bills for FY 2025 recurring services must submit their BEARs by October 28, 2026, or request a one-time extension within 15 days of that date (we’ll discuss this change during training).  Click on  Invoicing Status of ALL FY2025 FRNs As Of 10-19-2026 to see your current reimbursement status.  If needed, the Form 472 BEAR Filing Guide is available at: Form-472-BEAR-Filing-Guide.pdf.  As a reminder, BEAR reimbursements now require applicants to have an active SAM.gov registration, with the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) added to FCC Form 498 in EPC, allowing funds to be disbursed to the bank account associated with the SAM.gov registration.  Payments will be held for BEAR filers who have not completed this step.  

• File Your FY 2026 Form 486:  The next step after receiving a FCDL (funding commitment decision letter) is to file the Form 486. It’s an easy form to submit, and I strongly encourage you to file it the day you receive the FCDL so you don’t forget.   For a list of entities funded for FY 2026 that haven’t yet filed their Form 486 as of 10/19/2026, along with the Form 486 due date, click  FY2026 486 Due List – as of 10-19-2026.  For each 30-day period of recurring service that the 486 is overdue, USAC deducts 1 month’s worth of E-Rate funding.  In addition, no applicant BEARs or vendor SPIs can be submitted until the Form 486 has been certified/approved.  Two reminders:  Do not check the ‘Early Filing Box’ when filing the 486 after July 31, and be careful not to be “click happy” on the CIPA certifications.  Full instructions on filing the Form 486 can be found at:  Form 486 Filing Guide FY 2026. 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Lorrie

Lorrie Germann
Pennsylvania E-Rate Coordinator
717-576-2737 – o
lgermann@e-ratepa.org
www.e-ratepa.org