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November 1, 2019
TIP OF THE WEEK: We still have space available for all remaining fall applicant training sessions. If you are interested in attending a session or need more information, you can refer to the 2019 Training page. Once you have chosen a session, you can click the blue Register Here button to register.
Commitments for Funding Years 2019 and 2018
Funding Year 2019. USAC released FY2019 Wave 31 Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDLs) on October 31. As of November 1, FY2019 commitments total over $1.94 billion.
Funding Year 2018. USAC released FY2018 Wave 67 FCDLs on October 28. As of November 1, FY2019 commitments total over $2.24 billion.
On the date that FCDLs are issued, you can access your FCDL notification from the Notifications section of your landing page in the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC).
Coming November 11: Updated USAC Website
In November, USAC will launch an updated version of the USAC website. The updated site features design and functionality changes to help users find the information they need, when they need it. The site’s new program homepages put key dates and resources front and center. Information will be updated throughout the year to reflect each program’s lifecycle.
While most of the site’s content hasn’t changed, expanded menus make it easy to navigate to the information you need and improved search functionality makes it easier to find answers. For example, updated FAQs allow users to search by topic or specific keywords.
The site responds to mobile devices and all operating systems and meets 508 accessibility standards.
With the migration to the updated website, not all USAC URLs will be maintained. This means that any hyperlinks or bookmarks to USAC web content that are not maintained, including PDFs and CSV templates, will redirect users to USAC’s updated landing page, USAC.org, where they can use the improved search functionality to navigate to the content they seek.
USAC's updated website will go live on Monday, November 11. For more information on USAC’s new website, go to USAC.org on November 11 for a video tour of the new site.
We will continue to provide updates about the website in the SL News Brief, and the Client Service Bureau (888-203-8100) is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, to help stakeholders with additional questions.
What to Do if You Missed Your October Deadline
October 28, 2019 was the deadline for most program participants to:
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Missed Invoice Deadlines for FY2018
If you missed your invoice deadline and your deadline to request an invoice deadline extension for FY2018 recurring services, you must file a waiver request with the FCC before submitting your invoice to USAC to be processed. The FCC must grant your waiver request before USAC can extend the invoice deadline.
If your invoice was submitted by the deadline but USAC reduces or denies the amount invoiced, you must submit an appeal to USAC.
You can verify whether your invoice deadline has been extended by searching for your Funding Request Number(s) (FRNs) in the FRN Extension Table.
Missed FCC Form 498 Deadline for Updating Business Type
In the August 16 SL News Brief, we notified program participants with approved FCC Forms 498 that an entry is required in the new Business Type field. We also sent a reminder by email to those applicants and service providers who have not yet chosen an entry from the drop-down menu for this field and recertified their form. Your update should have be completed by October 31, 2019.
Participants who have not updated their FCC Forms 498 should do so immediately to avoid invoice processing delays. For more information about this requirement, you can refer to the email you received or the August 16 SL News Brief.
Missed FCC Form 486 Deadline for FY2019
October 29, 2019 was the deadline for most program participants to certify an FCC Form 486, Receipt of Service Confirmation and Children's Internet Protection Act Certification Form for FY2019.
If you missed your deadline to file an FCC Form 486 for FY2019 services, certify your form as soon as possible to avoid a penalty (see below).
FCC Form 486 Urgent Reminder Letters
USAC issues an FCC Form 486 Urgent Reminder Letter to applicants that appear to have missed the deadline to certify an FCC Form 486 based on the service delivery date in the FCC Form 471. The deadline to file an FCC Form 486 is 120 days after the date of the FCDL or 120 days after the service start date, whichever is later.
USAC calculates the date to issue this letter based on the service start date reported on the FCC Form 471. If your actual service start date is later than the date you reported on FCC Form 471, your deadline may not have passed. In this case, you are responsible for calculating and meeting your actual deadline, as USAC will not issue a second reminder letter. You can use the Deadlines Tool to calculate your specific deadline.
Applicants that file their FCC Form 486 in EPC will receive this letter in the EPC News feed. They have 15 days from the date of the letter to submit and certify an FCC Form 486 online with no penalty (if the service start date reported on the FCC Form 471 was the actual service start date). Note: For FY2015 and previous funding years, the letter is issued on paper and provides a 20-day grace period (15 days plus five days for mail receipt).
If you miss this deadline, USAC will adjust your service start date to a date 120 days before the date you certified your form, and your funding commitment may be reduced to reflect the reduction in service time.
If you want to appeal a decision related to a late-filed FCC Form 486, you must file your appeal first with USAC. If USAC denies the appeal, then you may then appeal to the FCC.
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