{"id":36019,"date":"2025-06-26T17:30:20","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T21:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=36019"},"modified":"2025-06-29T17:31:59","modified_gmt":"2025-06-29T21:31:59","slug":"june-2025-e-rate-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=36019","title":{"rendered":"June 2025 E-rate Update"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>June 26, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Happy Summer, E-raters!&nbsp; Below are several E-rate updates and reminders\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Supreme Court Decision Expected Tomorrow:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>The US Supreme Court is expected to hand down their decision tomorrow, June 27, on the constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund.\u00a0 Specific questions the Court is expected to answer and a summary of the case are available at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=35922\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=35922<\/a>.\u00a0 I will send a summary of the Court\u2019s decision tomorrow.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Status of FY 2025 Funding Commitments:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>As of June 26, 72% of PA funding requests have been decided.\u00a0 PIA continues to actively review applications so if your application has not yet been decided, be checking your e-mail for PIA inquiries.\u00a0 If you need assistance with understanding the PIA review process or where to find the PIA reviewer\u2019s questions, please see:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/PIA-Review-Guide-FY-2025.pdf\" class=\"mtli_attachment mtli_pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PIA-Review-Guide-FY-2025.pdf<\/a>.\u00a0 If you need assistance with responding to a PIA inquiry, please e-mail me.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you have an application still pending and have not received any PIA inquiries, or it\u2019s been 60+ days since your last PIA correspondence, please send me your Entity Name, BEN, 471 #, and last date of PIA correspondence.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Off-Campus Wi-Fi Hotspot Eligibility Update:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>On May 8, the U.S. Senate passed\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/shlb.us12.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=b8f06a885587335ee5c6b1717&amp;id=06977df24a&amp;e=7c5a6271cf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">S.J. Res. 7<\/a>\u00a0to overturn the FCC\u2019s decision to allow E-rate funding to be used for Wi-Fi hotspot lending by schools and libraries.\u00a0 However, the measure has not been passed by the U.S. House.\u00a0 It appears that USAC is not actively reviewing these applications.\u00a0 I will keep you updated if there is further action on the eligibility of Wi-Fi hotspots.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Last Chance to Sign PEPPM LOA<\/strong>:\u00a0 E-rate rules require all consortia leads to obtain a signed LOA (Letter of Agency) from their participating members\u00a0<em>before<\/em>\u00a0the E-rate Form 470 is posted.\u00a0 The current PA PEPPM Contract is being rebid this summer, so if you did\u00a0NOT\u00a0sign the PEPPM LOA in June\/July 2022, you have an additional opportunity to join the PEPPM consortium now.\u00a0 Please note:\u00a0 almost\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Entities-that-Have-Signed-PEPPM-LOA.xlsx\" class=\"mtli_attachment mtli_xlsx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">all LEAs signed the PEPPM LOA in 2022<\/a>; therefore, this message mostly pertains to charter schools, nonpublic schools and libraries.\u00a0\u00a0If your name is NOT on this list and you wish to be added to the PEPPM consortium, please complete this online LOA by Wednesday, July 9. \u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peppm.org\/erate2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.peppm.org\/erate2025\/<\/a><\/strong><strong>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>By signing this LOA, you are not obligating yourself whatsoever to purchase from the PEPPM contract.\u00a0 You are merely stating that you are allowing the PEPPM administrators to include you as an eligible entity on the Form 470 which will then give you the option to use the PEPPM mini-bid process for your C2 E-rate procurements in the future.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Error Messages Logging in to EPC:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>I know applicants are still receiving this error message when logging into EPC:\u00a0 \u201cAuthSDKError:\u00a0Unable to parse a token from the URL\u201d.\u00a0 \u00a0USAC continues to try to resolve the error, but in the meantime, the best resolution is to simply hit your browser\u2019s BACK button.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Out of Window Waivers<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 The FCC continues to issue out of window waivers for applicants that filed late Form 471s by April 9 and requested a window waiver from the FCC.\u00a0 If you are still awaiting a decision, the Commission releases them on the first business day of the month and if your waiver or appeal is included, you will receive an e-mail from the FCC with an attachment of their appeal decisions for that month, showing that their waiver was approved.\u00a0 If your waiver request is approved, the FCC will direct USAC to move your application to \u201cin window\u201d status and proceed with PIA review in the normal review queue.\u00a0 There\u2019s nothing you have to do except wait to see if PIA has questions for you in the coming weeks\/months. \u00a0To see what decisions the FCC has granted thus far, go to:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\/general\/e-rate-schools-libraries-usf-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">e-rate-schools-libraries-usf-program<\/a>, scroll down, and you\u2019ll be able to see\u00a0<em>[month] USF Appeals Public Notice.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>FY 2024 and FY 2025 BEAR Reimbursement Filings:<\/strong>\u00a0 Starting July 1, 2025, applicants can begin to submit BEARs for FY 2025 equipment purchases that were made on or after April 1, 2025 (service providers can also submit FY 2025 SPIs on or after this date).\u00a0 This is also about the time when applicants who did not receive discounted vendor bills for FY 2024 recurring services will begin to submit those BEARs as well, with a deadline of October 28, 2025 .\u00a0 I\u2019ll provide more detailed information on filing that form in the coming weeks.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><u>Reminders<\/u><\/strong><strong>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>File Your FY 2025 Form 486:<\/strong>\u00a0 The next step after receiving a FCDL (funding commitment decision letter) is to file the Form 486. It\u2019s a very easy form to submit and I strongly encourage you to file it on the day you receive the FCDL so you don\u2019t forget.\u00a0 Two reminders:\u00a0 Check the \u2018Early Filing Box\u2019 if filing the 486 before July 31, and be careful not to be \u201cclick happy\u201d on the CIPA certifications.\u00a0 Full instructions on the Form 486 can be found at:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Form-486-Filing-Guide-FY-2025.pdf\" class=\"mtli_attachment mtli_pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Form-486-Filing-Guide-FY-2025.pdf<\/a>.\u00a0 I\u2019ll send out a 486 reminder in a few months with the list of applicants that haven\u2019t yet filed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Label and Inventory Category 2 Equipment:<\/strong>\u00a0 If you applied for Category 2 discounts this year, don\u2019t forget to label the equipment before it\u2019s installed, and add the equipment to your asset inventory.\u00a0 For more details on these requirements, in addition to other C2-related issues, please review the Category 2 Purchasing Guide, available at:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Equipment-Purchasing-Guide-FY-2025.pdf\" class=\"mtli_attachment mtli_pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Equipment-Purchasing-Guide-FY-2025.pdf<\/a>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Request Discounted Bills:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Be sure to tell your vendors if you want to receive discounted bills where the vendor then seeks reimbursement.\u00a0 If you prefer to pay your vendor invoices in full and then submit the Form 472 BEAR to seek reimbursement, that\u2019s your option, but you must stick with one invoicing method or the other for the entire funding year for each FRN.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Changing EPC Account Administrators\/Adding New EPC Users:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Summer often brings staffing changes and it\u2019s important that the new staff get set up in EPC so they are prepared to file E-rate forms as soon as they\u2019re due.\u00a0 Hints:\u00a0 Only AA\u2019s can create new EPC user accounts and assign User \u2018permissions.\u2019\u00a0 Only AAs can transfer their AA \u2018credentials\u2019 to another existing EPC User.\u00a0 If the AA is the new staff member and the previous AA is no longer with the school or library, contact CSC at 888-203-8100 and they will set up a new EPC AA account (only CSC can do this).\u00a0 For a complete guide on how to add\/remove EPC users, or change AAs, see:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/EPC-How-To-Guide-as-of-Nov-2024.pdf\" class=\"mtli_attachment mtli_pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">EPC-How-To-Guide-as-of-Nov-2024.pdf<\/a>. \u00a0Also, if you need any new E-rate contacts added to the PA E-rate Listserve, please e-mail me their contact information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Julie Tritt Schell<br>Pennsylvania E-rate Coordinator<br>717-730-7133 &#8211; o<br>jtschell@comcast.net<br>www.e-ratepa.org<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"twitter-share\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?via=eratepenn\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-size=\"large\">Tweet<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>June 26, 2025<\/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-36019","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\/36019","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=36019"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36019\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=36019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=36019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=36019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}