May 28, 2021

TIP OF THE WEEK: If you missed our May 26 webinar on Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) Review and Selective Review, you can register to watch a recording online. To view a recording on the Webinars page, click the link for the webinar and provide the requested information. After clicking the Register button, the video will appear.

Commitments for Funding Year (FY) 2021 and FY2020

FY2021. USAC released FY2021 Wave 7 Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDLs) on May 27. As of May 28, FY2021 commitments total over $1.20 billion.

FY2020. USAC released FY2020 Wave 56 FCDLs on May 26. As of May 28, FY2020 commitments total over $2.38 billion.

On the date that USAC issues FCDLs, you can access your FCDL notification from the Notifications section of your landing page in the E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC).

Selective Review Overview

Each year, some applicants undergo a selective review as part of USAC's review of their FCC Form 471. Selective review is a separate component of the application review process, and can run concurrently with a PIA review. In general, the purpose of selective review is to verify that the applicant followed the required competitive bidding process and that it has the necessary resources to make effective use of the requested services; however, selective review may also verify compliance with other program rules.

Selective reviews take place at the billed entity level. If you as the billed entity are chosen for a selective review, we will review all the FCC Forms 471 that you certified for the funding year.

In this issue, we will cover the process of receiving the selective review notification and the deadline for responding.

1. USAC issues the selective review questions.

If your billed entity is chosen for a selective review, the contact person on your forms will receive an email from portal@usac.org notifying them that a Selective Review Information Request (SRIR) is available in EPC. The subject line will include the FCC Form 471 application number (or application numbers, if the billed entity certified more than one) and the words "E-Rate Review Information."

You can access the SRIR by clicking the link provided in the email. After you log in to EPC, you will be able to access the SRIR.

2. You confirm receipt of the SRIR.

The reviewer is required to confirm with the contact person that the SRIR has been received. You can confirm receipt by calling or emailing the reviewer using the reviewer's contact information featured on the email notification.

3. You respond to the selective review request and provide the appropriate documentation.

You can enter answers to the selective review questions in the fields provided in the SRIR in EPC. The questions asked are generally the same for all selective reviews.

For answers that also require documentation, you can upload documents or files by clicking the Choose File link or the +Add Document link and following the instructions.

If USAC has additional questions, we will contact you with another inquiry through EPC detailing the information needed.

4. You can request an extension if needed.

As with other reviews, you can request an extension of time to respond by choosing the appropriate extension option in the SRIR. Your first request is granted automatically for an additional seven days. The contact person can ask for a second extension, but that extension must be approved by USAC.

Getting Started with the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program

Here are some tips to get ready to apply for funding from the ECF Program:

Request an FCC Registration Number (FCC RN)

You can apply for an FCC RN through the FCC Commission Registration System (CORES). FCC RNs are required for entities that do business with the FCC. If your entity already has an FCC RN, you do not need a new one.

Obtain a DUNS Number

DUNS, or Data Universal Numbering System, is a proprietary system developed and regulated by Dun & Bradstreet. An entity required to register with the federal government can get a DUNS number for free. The DUNS Number area of the Dun & Bradstreet website provides options to look up a DUNS number and to request a DUNS Number if you do not already have one.

Register with SAM.gov

The System for Award Management (SAM.gov) is an official website of the U.S. Government. This registration is necessary for all organizations that are beneficiaries or receive support from the U.S. government.

For more information about the ECF Program, you can refer to the May 14, 2021 SL News Brief.