{"id":33868,"date":"2021-12-17T03:50:59","date_gmt":"2021-12-17T03:50:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/e-ratepaorg.local\/?p=33868"},"modified":"2021-12-18T03:56:34","modified_gmt":"2021-12-18T03:56:34","slug":"updating-enrollment-and-nslp-data-in-epc-or-not","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=33868","title":{"rendered":"Updating Enrollment and NSLP Data in EPC – Or Not"},"content":{"rendered":"

December 17, 2021<\/span><\/p>\n

Attached:\u00a0PA Entity Data as of Dec 17 2021<\/a><\/p>\n

Attached:\u00a0Updating C2 Budgets and Enrollment-NSLP in EPC FY 2022<\/a><\/p>\n

The \u201cAdministrative Window\u201d is the 3-month timeframe\u00a0before<\/em>\u00a0the Form 471 application window, during which time schools and libraries update their entities\u2019 data in EPC.\u00a0 Typically this week is when I send the draft enrollment and NSLP data to this listserve so they can update their EPC profiles for the upcoming funding year before the \u2018Admin Window\u2019 closes in early January.\u00a0 This year, due to both the new Category 2 rules and the fact that most schools are again not operating NSLP programs this year because of the pandemic, the guidance is much different.\u00a0 Please read this message carefully and decide if you need to take action in the next few weeks.<\/p>\n

1. Discount Calculation Data Updates:<\/strong>\u00a0 Applicants generally are required to update their enrollment and NSLP (or CEP%) each year.\u00a0 However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that nearly all public schools are not operating the NSLP program this year (using SSO instead), USAC has announced that schools will be permitted to use enrollment and NSLP eligibility data from previously approved Funding Year (FY) 2020 or 2021 applications (that utilized data from fall 2019 and fall 2020) for the purpose of their FY 2022 applications. \u00a0This means that school applicants are\u00a0not<\/strong>\u00a0required to update their school profile information for FY 2022, but they may do so with current data if they so choose.\u00a0 (The FY 2021 numbers are pre-populated in the school entity profiles and do not change unless the school overwrites these numbers with new data during the Administrative Window.)<\/p>\n

My advice:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>I expect most schools will \u201clet their data ride\u201d for FY 2022 and not make any changes.\u00a0 However, if your E-rate discount will increase by using the most current data (Oct 2021) you should update the enrollment and NSLP data in EPC for each school before the close of the Admin Window (see attached Guide to walk through the steps.)\u00a0 Want to know what is data currently is in EPC?\u00a0 See # 3 below.<\/em><\/p>\n

2. Category 2 Budget Enrollment Data Updates:<\/strong>\u00a0 Applicants are permitted to use the same enrollment (schools) or square footage (libraries) data for the entire 5-year C2 budget cycle, or if enrollment increases, they may increase their C2 enrollment and request a Category 2 Replacement Budget (C2RB) with USAC.\u00a0\u00a0Note:\u00a0 There is a new Category 2 Replacement Budget process that was just announced by USAC.\u00a0 Your C2 budget is determined by the first year you submit a C2 Form 471 in the budget cycle.<\/p>\n

My advice:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>If your organization will be requesting Category 2 funding for FY 2022,\u00a0and\u00a0if your enrollment (or library square footage) has increased, you will want to update the C2 budget enrollment data in EPC and then use the new C2RB procedure to request a Replacement C2 Budget (it doesn\u2019t happen automatically \u2013 see attached Guide to explain this process).\u00a0 If you\u2019re not applying for Category 2 funding in FY 2022, or if your enrollment has decreased \u2013 do nothing, and you will retain the higher C2 budget.<\/em><\/p>\n

3. Is Your Entity\u2019s EPC Profile Up-to-Date?<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Be sure to check that your organization\u2019s EPC Profile is accurate.\u00a0 To make this step as easy as possible, I\u2019ve downloaded and attached the most recent PA entity database (accurate as of midnight last night), and narrowed, re-sorted and color-coded the fields.\u00a0 To find the entities that relate to your organization, use the filter function to narrow your search. \u00a0If your EPC Account Administrator needs to be updated, or you need to add or remove a building, contact USAC at 888-203-8100.\u00a0 To update addresses, enrollment data, NSLP (or CEP%), C2 enrollment data, or library square footage data, you can make those modifications in EPC (https:\/\/forms.universalservice.org\/portal\/login<\/a>).<\/p>\n