{"id":33551,"date":"2021-08-16T00:30:11","date_gmt":"2021-08-16T00:30:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/e-ratepaorg.local\/?p=33551"},"modified":"2021-08-17T00:32:42","modified_gmt":"2021-08-17T00:32:42","slug":"ecf-window-1-closes-whats-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=33551","title":{"rendered":"ECF Window 1 Closes – What’s Next?"},"content":{"rendered":"

August 16, 2021<\/span><\/p>\n

Congratulations to the 253 PA applicants submitted 304 applications by the deadline, requesting approximately $148 million.\u00a0 Applicants included 184 school districts, 7 CTCs, 30 charter schools, 5 IUs, 3 nonpublic schools, and 24 libraries.\u00a0 Unlike E-rate, there is no central data-reporting tool yet available so I can\u2019t provide granular application data today, but will do so as soon as it I have it.\u00a0 Based on conversations with my counterparts in other states this morning \u2013 which is totally unofficial, I do not believe demand will exceed the $7 billion cap.\u00a0 I will keep you posted as we learn more, including if and when the FCC will open Window 2 and what the timeframe will be eligible purchases (retroactive or prospective).<\/p>\n

Still Need to File?<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you missed the deadline, please submit your ECF Form 471 application ASAP and then submit a waiver request to the FCC.\u00a0 The waiver request instructions can be found at:\u00a0https:\/\/www.emergencyconnectivityfund.org\/submit-window-waiver-requests\/<\/a>. \u00a0Be sure to provide a good explanation for why you missed the August 13 deadline because there is no precedent for the FCC to approve your waiver request, unlike the E-rate program. \u00a0If you still want to apply, please submit your application ASAP and request a waiver — don\u2019t wait for Window 2.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next? \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. PIA Inquiries<\/strong><\/p>\n

USAC has a separate PIA team of reviewers that are actively conducting outreach for submitted applications on which they have questions or need additional information.\u00a0 PIA outreach notifications will come via e-mail from \u201cadmin@ecfportal.usac.org<\/a>; on behalf of; Emergency Connectivity Fund Admin\u00a0ECFadmin@usac.org<\/a>\u201d\u00a0so please white-list both of these e-mail addresses.\u00a0 If you receive a PIA inquiry, the subject line will be \u201cEmergency Connectivity Fund Information Request: FCC Form 471 Application ECF2021xxxxx\u201d.\u00a0 Before clicking on the \u201cClick here to respond to inquiries link\u201d in the body of the message, log-in to the ECF Portal at\u00a0https:\/\/forms.universalservice.org\/portal\/login<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Most PIA inquiries will contain an attachment in the portal which explains exactly the information they\u2019re seeking.\u00a0 To reply, click on \u201cContact Reviewer\u201d in the top right corner of the page.\u00a0 If you\u2019re unsure how to respond or think a proposed modification\/denial is being made in error, don\u2019t hesitate to push back or e-mail me if you\u2019re unsure.\u00a0 These are new reviewers working on a steep learning curve under incredibly tight timelines so mistakes can be expected.<\/p>\n

2. Funding Commitment Decision Letters<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

ECF FCDLs are expected to be issued in weekly funding waves, with the FCDL being sent to the 471 contact.\u00a0 I\u2019m not yet sure when they\u2019ll begin, but wouldn\u2019t be surprised if Wave 1 is issued by the end of August.<\/p>\n

3. Documenting Unmet Needs of Actual Students, Teachers & Library Patrons<\/strong><\/p>\n

During the Form 471 application stage, applicants only were required to provide their \u201cbest estimates\u201d of their students, teachers, or library patrons\u2019 unmet needs.\u00a0 However, when schools or their vendors file for ECF\u00a0reimbursements<\/em>\u00a0they may only request reimbursement for approved equipment or broadband services provided to actual students or teachers who otherwise lack connected devices or internet access sufficient to engage in remote learning (no estimates or spares).\u00a0 Schools may be asked to provide documentation related to the equipment assigned to the these students or teachers, demonstrating this unmet need.\u00a0 Therefore, it is especially important that schools compile this information prior to submitting the ECF BEAR Reimbursement Form and be prepared to submit it to USAC upon request.\u00a0 I will be sending more information soon on what data you should be gathering from these students or teachers to demonstrate your compliance.<\/p>\n

For libraries, ECF rules require that patrons checking out ECF-funded equipment or services must be provided with a copy of an eligible use policy which explains that the equipment or service is intended for library patrons who do not otherwise have access to a connected device or services sufficient to meet the patrons\u2019 needs, AND patrons must sign and return a statement saying they would otherwise lack such access.\u00a0 Copies of these signed statements may be requested by USAC, but regardless are required to be retained for 10 years.\u00a0 Such statements may be made in electronic format, such as being incorporated as part of the online check-out process.<\/p>\n

4. Getting Paid \u2013 ECF Reimbursements<\/strong><\/p>\n

USAC is currently developing a new ECF invoicing system that is expected to be ready within 2 weeks of the first funding commitment wave.\u00a0 As soon as it\u2019s available, I\u2019ll develop a guide and conduct a demo webinar.\u00a0 Unlike E-rate, we know that detailed vendor invoices will be required to be submitted with the BEAR.<\/p>\n

Congratulations, again, everyone!\u00a0 I\u2019m so proud of our large participation.\u00a0 If you have any questions, please don\u2019t hesitate to contact me at\u00a0jtschell@comcast.net<\/a>.<\/p>\n

— Julie<\/p>\n

Julie Tritt Schell<\/p>\n

Pennsylvania E-rate Coordinator
\n717-730-7133 – o
\njtschell@comcast.net<\/a>
\nwww.e-ratepa.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n

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August 16, 2021<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[52],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-listserve_archive"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=33551"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33551\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=33551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=33551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=33551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}