{"id":33267,"date":"2021-05-26T23:31:34","date_gmt":"2021-05-26T23:31:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/e-ratepaorg.local\/?p=33267"},"modified":"2021-05-30T23:42:47","modified_gmt":"2021-05-30T23:42:47","slug":"ecf-update-and-faqs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=33267","title":{"rendered":"ECF Update and FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"

May 26, 2021<\/span><\/p>\n

Attached:\u00a0ECF Order Summary Short<\/a><\/p>\n

Attached:\u00a0ECF FAQs (unofficial) 5-26-2021<\/a><\/p>\n

The new Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) program is inching closer to the window opening in mid-late June and I hope that you are in the process of determining whether you will apply for funding to cover students\/educators\/library patrons that lack access to connected devices and\/or Internet access to participate in remote learning while off-campus.\u00a0 Several updates and clarifications:<\/p>\n

FAQs:<\/strong>\u00a0 I have compiled all of your ECF questions and my unofficial answers are in the attached FAQs.\u00a0 The FCC and USAC will be releasing a series of\u00a0official<\/em>\u00a0FAQs in the coming weeks.\u00a0 Included in the FAQs are these recent, important clarifications:<\/p>\n

Purchase Date:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Equipment\/service may be ordered prior to July 1, 2021, but it may not be received and\/or paid for until at least July 1.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Therefore, if you have already ordered equipment that you will want funded with ECF, be sure not to have it delivered and\/or paid for until after July 1.<\/p>\n

Prospective Reimbursement:\u00a0 For applicants that cannot afford to pay 100% of the cost and then seek reimbursement, applicants may seek a \u201cprospective reimbursement\u201d from ECF after which they must pay the vendor within 30 days and then submit proof of payment to USAC.\u00a0 To use this provision, services\/equipment must be delivered prior to requesting the prospective reimbursement.<\/p>\n

Internet on Buses:\u00a0 Internet on student buses is eligible for both \u201cparked\u201d buses and buses transporting students.\u00a0 For parked buses, access must be restricted to students (meaning it can\u2019t be opened to the community at large).<\/p>\n

Eligible Staff:\u00a0 Connected devices and internet services used off-campus are limited to school staff who are involved directly with the education of students such as teachers and para-professionals and who qualify under the \u201cneeds\u201d test.<\/p>\n

Presentations\/Summaries:<\/strong><\/p>\n