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News of the Week

In This Week's Issue

Funding Status
- E-Rate for FY 2025 – Application Window
- E-Rate for FY 2024
- Cybersecurity Pilot Program – Application Window
Updates and Reminders
- Upcoming Dates

Subscribe to News of the Week

In This Week's Issue

Funding Status
- E-Rate for FY 2025 – Application Window
- E-Rate for FY 2024
- Cybersecurity Pilot Program – Application Window
Updates and Reminders
- Upcoming Dates

Subscribe to News of the Week

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February 17, 2025

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), fax (516-801-7810), or through our Contact Us web form. Additional E-rate information is located on the E-Rate Central website.

Funding Status

E-Rate for FY 2025 – Application Window:

Application Window: The Form 471 application window for FY 2025 opened Wednesday, January 15th, and will close on Wednesday, March 26th, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. For additional information on the FY 2025 filing window, including training opportunities, see USAC’s E-Rate Special Edition News Brief dated January 15th.

E-Rate for FY 2024:

Wave 43 for FY 2024 was released on Thursday, February 13th, for $1.27 million. Total funding is now $2.57 billion. Currently, USAC has funded 98.0% of the originally submitted applications, representing 88.2% of the dollars requested.

Cybersecurity Pilot Program – Application Window:

Application Window: The CBR Form 471 application window for the Cybersecurity Pilot Program opens March 18th and will close September 15th. Total pilot funding is capped at $200 million for 707 applicants.

Updates and Reminders

Upcoming Dates:

February 21	FY 2024 Form 486 deadline for Wave 27. The Form 486 deadline is 120 days after the FCDL date, or the service start date (typically July 1st), whichever is later. The next Form 486 deadlines for FY 2024 are: Wave 28 02/28/2025 Wave 29 03/07/2025 Wave 30 03/14/2025 Wave 31 03/21/2025
February 25	Extended invoice deadline for FY 2023 recurring service FRNs with approved extensions beyond the original October 28, 2024, deadline.
February 26	Free SHLB Webinar: Should Congress Repeal the FCC’s E-Rate Hotspot Lending Decision? 1:00-2:00 PM ET \| Register
March 18	Opening of the Cybersecurity Pilot Form 471 application window.
March 26	Close of the E-Rate Form 471 application window for FY 2025.
March 26	Oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of the Universal Service Funds (see our newsletter of November 25, 2024).
May 28	Extended invoice deadline for FY 2023 non-recurring service FRNs with approved extensions beyond the original January 28, 2025, deadline.
July 1	Withdrawal deadline for selected Cybersecurity Pilot participants opting not to continue in the Program.
September 15	Close of the Cybersecurity Pilot Form 471 application window and deadline for filing the Form 484 Part 2.