{"id":32389,"date":"2020-04-21T01:38:14","date_gmt":"2020-04-21T01:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/e-ratepaorg.local\/?p=32389"},"modified":"2020-04-23T01:42:08","modified_gmt":"2020-04-23T01:42:08","slug":"home-stretch-e-rate-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=32389","title":{"rendered":"Home Stretch E-rate Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

April 21, 2020<\/span><\/p>\n

Good afternoon, E-raters!<\/p>\n

With 8 filing days remaining to file FY 2020 Form 471s, I\u2019m pleased to report that PA\u2019s filing rates are a little ahead of where we were at this point last year.\u00a0 However, I believe there are still half of the FRNs waiting to be submitted.\u00a0 The exact stats are below. \u00a0As of today, I have heard no indication that the FCC intends to extend next week\u2019s Form 471 filing deadline (Wednesday, April 29).\u00a0 If you haven\u2019t yet filed, well, now is the time.\u00a0 (As Mary Poppins would say \u2013 Spit Spot!)<\/p>\n

>>>\u00a0Process Reminder<\/strong>:\u00a0\u00a0File Form 470 (or PEPPM mini-bid) for bidding > Conduct Bid Evaluation > Sign Vendor Contract > Create Contract Record in EPC > File Form 471 > PIA Review > Funding Commitment Decisions Letter > File Form 486. <<<<\/p>\n

Ask Me Anything Zoom!:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0To help answer any last minute questions you have about your filings, I\u2019ve scheduled an Ask Me Anything Zoom session on Thursday, April 23 from 1 \u2013 3.\u00a0 \u00a0There will be no formal presentation, just an open dialogue for you to ask any questions you have about E-rate and your applications.\u00a0 Of course, you can always e-mail me questions and certainly don\u2019t have to wait until Thursday.\u00a0 No password required, simply go to:\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/paiu.zoom.us\/j\/4883075740<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Filing Hints:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Recently I sent to the listserve some important filing hints I hope you will all read before filing.\u00a0 They are listed at:\u00a0\u00a0https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=32373<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Form 471 Reminder E-mails:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>I\u2019ve received multiple reports of 471 \u201creminder\u201d e-mails being sent to applicants that have already filed their applications.\u00a0 If you get one of these, don\u2019t worry.\u00a0 It means you have an unfinished (abandoned) 471 sitting in EPC that you started, but then didn\u2019t submit.\u00a0 Simply go to your EPC Landing Page, and under My Tasks, click on the 471 link.\u00a0 Then click \u201cDiscard Form\u201d and *poof* those reminder e-mails will go away.<\/p>\n

Extended Time for PIA Responses:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Many of you who filed your 471 applications are already in PIA review.\u00a0 Although the FCC granted additional time for applicants to respond to USAC PIA inquiries, the EPC system is hard-coded to automatically send out reminder notices based on the normal program deadlines. \u00a0In other words, ignore the deadlines stated in EPC and in the reminder notices you receive.\u00a0 Rest assured that USAC is not going to deny any of these forms or requests due to non-response or incomplete responses. \u00a0They will instead continue their attempts to contact you, and when you are able to respond, they will continue their review.<\/p>\n

Vendor Cost Allocation Links:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Some manufacturer\u2019s have websites to help applicants determine if the products they\u2019re listed on their Form 471s are E-rate eligible, partially eligible, or 0% eligible. \u00a0Here are the ones I\u2019m familiar with; if you know of others, please send them to me:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n