Funding Status
The first funding wave for FY 2011 is still awaiting FCC approval of USAC's PIA review procedures. PIA review procedures may be receiving greater attention this year because of the number of rule changes (e.g., basic maintenance eligibility and gifting) that become effective in FY 2011 as a result of last year's 6th Report & Order. Our current expectation is that the procedures will be approved shortly and that Wave 1 will be released within the next 2-3 weeks.
Wave 52 for FY 2010 will be released on Tuesday, June 7th, for $24.5 million. Cumulative funding for FY 2010 is now $2.53 billion. Priority 2 funding is still being awarded at 81% and above, and denied at 79% and below. The status of Priority 2 funding at 80% is pending an FCC decision.
E-Rate Updates and Reminders
The FCC's Summer E-Rate Agenda:
This summer should be a busy one for the E-rate staff of the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau. The following is a list of the key actions we are expecting over the next couple of months:
- Approval of USAC's PIA review procedures. As indicated above, this will hopefully occur this week. This may not be formally announced, but may be inferred from the release of Wave 1 for FY 2011.
- Announcement later in June of the amount of previously unused funds that will be rolled-over and made available for FY 2011 funding. Current indications are that this will be $600 million. This would be down from the $900 million rolled over for both FY 2009 and FY 2010. At this level, Priority 2 funding will not be available much below the 90% discount level.
- Release for comment of the draft Eligible Services List for FY 2012. This should also occur later in June, and may include a number of clarifications of new eligibility rules announced last year.
- Release of updated rules on the Children's Internet Protection Act ("CIPA"). While this Order may come out in June or July, any changes are unlikely to become effective until July 1, 2012.
- Release of a public notice clarifying various aspects of the new E-rate gifting rules.
SLD Fall Training:
The SLD has again scheduled a series of one-day applicant workshops across the country (see below). Registration for these workshops has been open for several weeks, and three are currently available on a waiting list basis. Many state-sponsored E-rate workshops are also typically available each fall.
|
City
|
Date
|
| Washington, DC* |
September 26 |
| Newark, NJ* |
October 6 |
| Minneapolis, MN |
October 10 |
| Portland, OR |
October 13 |
| St. Louis, MO |
October 18 |
| New Orleans, LA |
October 27 |
| Los Angeles, CA* |
November 1 |
| Orlando, FL |
November 8 |
* Waiting list only
Schools and Libraries News Brief dated June 3 – Summer Activities
The SLD's News Brief for June 3, 2011, lists and discusses activities that applicants and/or service providers should focus on over the summer to speed application processing, including:
- Monitor the contact information you provided on program forms.
- Respond to any PIA review questions.
- Respond to any Problem Resolution (paper form processing) questions.
- Submit your BEAR Forms for services already received for FY2010.
- Review your CIPA status.
- Label and store program-related documents.
- Make sure the technology plan that covers FY2011 [Priority 2] services has been approved.
- Subscribe to the Schools and Libraries News Brief from a personal email account.
- Start making plans to attend applicant training in the fall.