Introduction
The E-Rate Central News for the Week is prepared by E-Rate Central. E-Rate Central specializes in providing consulting, compliance, and forms processing services to E-rate applicants. To learn more about our services, please contact us by phone (516) 801-7804 or by e-mail. Additional E-rate information is located on the E-Rate Central Web site.
Wave 2 Funding for FY 2003
| Wave 2 for Funding Year 2003 is scheduled to be released on Monday, May 12, 2003. Total funding in this wave is approximately $44 million for almost 2,500 applications. The cumulative total for FY 2003 is now $225 million.
Funding in the first two waves involved only applications — and generally smaller applications — for Priority 1 services. The SLD has not yet made a decision on the discount levels at which Internal Connections can or cannot be funded for FY 2003. An initial decision on this matter is not expected for about a month.
Any applicant who has been funded for services that will start on (or within a month of) July 1, 2003, can file a Form 486 now by checking the “Early Filing” box in Block 2, Item 6a. The normal deadline for filing a Form 486, for any applicant funded on or before July 1, is October 29, 2003, but it is far preferable to file early than to forget and miss the deadline. Form 486 deadlines for FY 2002 applicants are reviewed below.
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| Applicants funded in FY 2002 must file their Form 486s within 120 days of the start of service (normally July 1, 2002) or the date of the Funding Commitment Decision Letter (“FCDL”), whichever is later. The deadlines for applicants funded in Waves 1-19 have already passed. Applicants funded in subsequent waves, have later Form 486 deadlines. Here are the next few: |
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FCDL Date |
486 Deadline |
| Wave 20 |
01/13/03 |
05/13/03 |
| Wave 21 |
01/27/03 |
05/27/03 |
| Wave 22 |
02/10/03 |
06/10/03 |
| Wave 23 |
03/03/03 |
07/01/03 |
| Wave 24 |
03/10/03 |
07/08/03 |
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| The penalty for missing a Form 486 deadline is a reduction in funding. If, for example, an applicant funded before Wave 20 does not file the associated Form 486 until June 1st, the SLD will adjust the start date to 120 days prior to the postmark date (i.e., to February 1, 2003). For recurring services, the SLD would reduce the funding accordingly (i.e., to 5/12ths of the originally approved amount); for non-recurring services, the SLD would deny funding for any equipment installed before February. |