News of the Week

USAC issued Wave 13 for FY 2018 on Friday, July 6th.  Cumulative funding as of Wave 13 is $1.32 billion.

USAC Seeks IT Enhancement Feedback:

USAC’s latest News Brief (referenced below) encourages E-rate participants to submit their ideas and feedback on Schools and Libraries information systems via the USAC web page “Share Your E-rate Technical System Ideas.”  The site can also be used to volunteer to help test new IT features.

Upcoming 2018 E-Rate Dates:

Reply Comments re. National Security Threats NPRM:

Last week was the deadline for submitting reply comments on the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) on Protecting Against National Security Threats to the Communications Supply Chain Through FCC Programs (see FCC 18-42 and our newsletter of April 2nd).  Initial comments filed by the State E-Rate Coordinators’ Alliance (“SECA”) and the American Library Association (“ALA”) both urged the FCC to base compliance with any resulting E-rate rules on service provider assurances and certifications..  Additional support for this position was provided in the reply comments filed by Kellogg & Sovereign Consulting (“KSLLC”).

Most of the other reply comments — none taking issue with the SECA/ALA position — were filed by national or regional telecommunications associations concerned primarily with FCC authority and with the preeminence of Congressional and other federal agencies (e.g., the Departments of Commerce, Homeland Security, or Defense and the National Security Agency).  Several rural broadband and wireless associations warned the FCC about the detrimental impact of banning affordable equipment currently being provided by Chinese companies.  Copies of all reply comments are available in the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System under the proceeding designated “18-89.”

USAC’s Schools and Libraries News Brief of July 3, 2018, indicates that the much beloved “Submit a Question” feature, long a staple of the “Resources & Tools” list on USAC’s E-rate site will be retired as of Friday, July 13th.

The News Brief reminds users of the newer ways to handle the following questions and requests, including:

• General questions
• Appeals, service substitution requests, and SPIN change requests
• Invoice deadline extensions requests
• Submissions of attachments to customer service cases or other requests

For “Submit a Question” cases pending as of June 1st, USAC is creating new customer service case numbers, linked through EPC.