October 9, 2020

TIP OF THE WEEK: Don't forget to file your FCC Form 486 if you have received a positive funding commitment and your services have started. Although the deadline to file this form has been extended, USAC cannot process invoices for FY2020 services from applicants or service providers without an approved FCC Form 486 on file.

Commitments for Funding Year (FY) 2020 and FY2019

FY2020. USAC released FY2020 Wave 24 Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDLs) on October 8. This is the first wave that includes commitment decisions for requests on FCC Forms 471 certified during the second FY2020 filing window. As of October 9, FY2020 commitments total over $1.73 billion.

FY2019. USAC released FY2019 Wave 75 FCDLs on October 7. As of October 9, FY2019 commitments total over $2.41 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).

More FAQs about the Second FY2020 Application Filing Window

As a reminder, the second FY2020 application filing window will close on Friday, October 16, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

In the last two SL News Briefs (the September 25 issue and the October 2 issue), we provided some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the second FY2020 application filing window. Below are some additional FAQs we have received.

Q. The second window FCC Form 471 I filed was just canceled. What is going on?

A. USAC is working with applicants to minimize the need to track additional Funding Request Numbers (FRNs) where possible by leveraging existing processes to process their second FY2020 filing window application.

For example, if we can process a request as a Receipt Acknowledgment Letter (RAL) modification on a pending application for the original FY2020 filing window, or if a service substitution can be created in association with a committed application from the original FY2020 filing window, we will modify the existing FRN rather than process or create a new FRN on the second FY2020 filing window application. If all the FRNs on a second FY2020 filing window application can be modified in this way, we will cancel that application. (Please note that applicants must file an FCC Form 471 during the second FY2020 filing window to use this process.)

For each FCC Form 471 we receive during the second FY2020 filing window, the reviewer assesses the scenario presented by the applicant and processes the request to accurately reflect the services/bandwidths received and the duration of those services as indicated on the supporting documentation provided.

Applicants should pay particular attention to any modification notifications we send regarding their second FY2020 filing window FCC Form 471 to make sure they agree with the changes the reviewer has made. Note that these modifications may be reported in a Revised Funding Commitment Decision Letter (RFCDL) related to the associated service substitution or an FCDL for the second FY2020 filing window application, depending on how your request is processed.

Q. I filed a large application (consortium or school district) during the original FY2020 filing window, but only some of the recipients of service on the original application are seeking additional bandwidth in the second FY2020 filing window. How should I file?

A. For the second FY2020 filing window application, we recommend that you refile the entire FRN. This way the discount calculated for that application will not change. However, be sure to include the increase in cost for the sites requesting the additional bandwidth. To help expedite our review, in the FRN narrative, we ask that you provide the following:

• the list of the sites that are requesting the additional bandwidth,
• details of the costs for the sites that are requesting the additional bandwidth, and
• the price per Mbps for the sites that are requesting the additional bandwidth.

Your reviewer will work with you to assure that only the eligible sites that are requesting the additional bandwidth receive the appropriate increase in funding.

Q. If an applicant had to open a new site due to COVID-19, and that site is an annex to an existing school, can the applicant request additional bandwidth for the annex?

A. Yes, as long as the annex is considered to be part of the existing school and it meets all of the other requirements to request the additional bandwidth for the second FY2020 filing window.

Q. I filed for high-speed internet access services during the original window but did not request bids for Leased Lit Fiber. Now I need to migrate to a lit fiber service for additional bandwidth. Do I have to post an FCC Form 470 for Leased Lit Fiber?

A. No. You can cite to the original FCC Form 470 on your second FY2020 filing window funding request.

USAC Seeks Feedback on User Experience-Related IT Enhancements

The Share Your E-rate User-Experience System Ideas form is available for program participants to submit their ideas and feedback for improving and/or enhancing the user experience of Schools and Libraries information systems. Please share your feedback to help us continue to improve the program.

We may ask you for additional information about any suggestions you submit to us. However, if you do not wish to be contacted by USAC, simply notify us by email.

We have also posted a list of the User Experience-Related System Enhancements that contains the user-submitted suggestions we have implemented, organized by the date the enhancement was deployed. We will continue to update the list as we deploy new system enhancements.

If you have specific inquiries or requests for assistance related to the information systems, please create a customer service case in EPC or call CSB.