{"id":35202,"date":"2023-11-17T02:56:47","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T02:56:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/e-ratepaorg.local\/?p=35202"},"modified":"2023-11-21T03:00:03","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T03:00:03","slug":"e-rate-update-november-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=35202","title":{"rendered":"E-rate Update – November 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

November 17, 2023<\/span><\/p>\n

The fall is always a busy time of year for E-rate, but this year is off the charts!\u00a0 Please review each of these items and let me know if you have any questions.<\/p>\n

FCC Releases Major E-rate-Related Initiatives<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the last two weeks, the FCC has issued two NPRMs and a Declaratory Ruling that are proposed to add services and equipment to the E-rate program (School Bus Wi-Fi and Hot Spot Lending) and introduce an entirely pilot program (Cybersecurity Pilot Program).\u00a0 Be sure to read the summaries of these new initiatives, and let me know if you would like to submit comments to the FCC to help answer some of their questions.\u00a0 As each one is adopted and more information is known, I\u2019ll send complete details.<\/p>\n

School Bus Wi-Fi<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=35144<\/a>.\u00a0 Comment deadline extended until November 30, 2023.<\/p>\n

Hotspot Lending Program<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=35170<\/a>. \u00a0Comment deadline not yet known.<\/p>\n

Cybersecurity Pilot Program<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=35176<\/a>.\u00a0 Comment deadline not yet known.\u00a0 Pilot program will be outside of E-rate, initially.<\/p>\n

New Form 472 BEAR Reimbursement Form in EPC<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 On November 6, USAC moved the Form 472 BEAR from the legacy system into the EPC system.\u00a0 Previously, the BEAR was a separate module when you logged into EPC (the middle option), but it is now a link from within the EPC E-rate portal.\u00a0 For those of you familiar with the ECF BEAR, it looks very much the same.\u00a0 I will send a separate message with a new EPC Form 472 BEAR Filing Guide soon.<\/p>\n

Admin Window Open<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The E-rate \u201cAdministrative Window\u201d is the period\u00a0before<\/em>\u00a0the 471 Application Window opens, during which time schools update their enrollment and NSLP (or CEP%) data in each school\u2019s EPC profile, update their Category 2 enrollment data (if it increased), and libraries update their square footage (if it changed).\u00a0 The Admin Window is now open and is expected to close the first or second week in January.\u00a0\u00a0Schools are required to update their EPC profiles with their fall 2023 data.\u00a0\u00a0In mid-December, I will send to the listserve a spreadsheet from PDE that provides the enrollment, NSLP (or CEP%) data along with a guide that will walk you through the process for updating each school\u2019s EPC profile.\u00a0 If your school does not participate in NSLP (some nonpublic schools, for example) please go ahead and update your data in EPC now as there is no need for you to wait for the PDE data (last year\u2019s\u00a0Guide<\/a>\u00a0is available to use).<\/p>\n

New Functionality in EPC to Cancel Form 470\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 For the first time since the E-rate program began, applicants can now cancel a certified Form 470.\u00a0 The only catch is that the Form 470 can\u2019t be cited on any Form 471, regardless of that 471\u2019s status (meaning incomplete, pending or committed).\u00a0 To cancel a submitted Form 470 that isn\u2019t yet \u201cattached\u201d to a Form 471:\u00a0 Locate Form 470 > Related Actions > Cancel this FCC Form 470.\u00a0 Hurray!<\/p>\n

FY 2024 Form 471 Filing Window Dates\u00a0<\/strong>— The FCC has not yet released the official FY 2024 Eligible Services List (ESL) which means that USAC cannot yet announce the official Form 471 Filing Window dates.\u00a0 However, they indicated recently that they expect the window dates to be very similar to last year, which means it will likely open around the second week in January and close around mid-late March, 2024.<\/p>\n

Post Form 470\u2019s or Issue PEPPM Mini-Bids Now!<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 If you haven\u2019t done so already, please review what Category 1 contracts are expiring, and determine what equipment you will need for FY 2024.\u00a0 My suggestion is to begin your procurements no later than the first week in December, evaluation your bids in January, take the new contracts to your board in February, and then submit the Form 471 in late February\/early March.\u00a0 The sooner you release these bids, the less stress you will feel in February and March.\u00a0 Here are recent message to help you with these filings:<\/p>\n