News of the Week

USAC released Wave 8 for FY 2019 on Thursday, June 13th.  Funding totaled $59.9 million.  Cumulative funding through Wave 8 is $898 million.

USAC issued a Special Edition News Brief on June 12th announcing its fall 2019 applicant and tribal training schedule.  Within 24 hours following the opening of registration, the two Washington DC sessions in mid-September were fully booked (with waiting lists).  The seven applicant sessions — one more than last year — will each include an optional half-day afternoon session the first day targeted at beginners, followed by full-day training for everyone the following day.  As was done last year, the full day training will have a beginner and an advance track.

• September 16 – 17 at USAC's offices, Washington, DC
• September 19 – 20 at USAC's offices, Washington, DC
• September 23 – 24 at Brookhaven College, Farmers Branch, TX
• October 2 – 3 at Harper College, Palatine, IL
• October 16 – 17 at Clark College, Vancouver, WA (+ morning Tribal session October 16)
• October 22 – 23 at Raritan Valley Community College, North Branch, NJ
• October 31 – November 1 at California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA
• November 19 at Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, OK (Tribal one-day session)
• November 21 at San Juan College, Farmington, NM (Tribal one-day session)

See also last Friday’s USAC News Brief referenced below.

Form 470 Status for FY 2020:

The FY 2020 version of the Form 470 is expected to be available in EPC on or before July 1st.  Applicants with long procurement cycles wishing to start before July have two options.

1. The best approach is to release an RFP as soon as it’s ready; post a FY 2020 Form 470 as it becomes available in July; and close the bid no sooner than 28 days after the Form 470 is posted or answers to questions have been posted.
2. If necessary, a FY 2019 version of the Form 470 can be filed this month.  In this case, as shown in the example below, the Narrative section must clearly indicate that the Form 470 is being filed for the purpose of requesting FY 2020 services.  While not required, it is a best practice to file a FY 2020 Form 470 and reference the original FY Form 2019 470 that was filed.  It is generally an uncommon practice for service providers to review FY 2019 470s for FY 2020 bidding opportunities.  When a FY 2019 Form 470 is posted for FY 2020 services, posting a new FY 2020 Form 470 when it becomes available, referencing the FY 2019 Form 470, increases the odds of a vendor, who is looking for bidding opportunities, to see and respond to your Form 470.

Upcoming E-Rate Dates:

FFL 2019 Applicant Survey:

Earlier this spring (see our newsletter of April 8th), we encouraged applicants to complete the E-rate survey conducted annually by Funds For Learning (“FFL”).  Last week FFL briefed the FCC on the preliminary results of their 2019 survey of over 1,750 applicants.  The final report will be available later this month.  Key findings in FFL’s 2019 survey are as follows:

• The E-rate program is working.  The vast majority of respondents credit E-rate with supporting faster and/or less expensive Internet connections and connecting more students and library patrons.
• Although “there is clearly more work to be done,” 53% of respondents (up from 35% last year) agree that the E-rate process “is becoming fast, simple, and efficient.”
• One-third of the applicants expect their broadband requirements to increase by 50% over the next three years.  This is the fourth straight year that growth of this magnitude has been projected.
• An increasing number of applicants are seeking E-rate support for “high-availability Internet configurations.”  14% are currently paying full, non-discounted, fees for additional network connections to ensure highly resilient Internet service.
• 26% of applicants reported lower prices per megabit because they now have the option of considering self-provisioned networks.
• The vast majority of applicants (83%) would like to share their Internet services with students in off-campus locations “and are willing to do so at no extra cost to the E-rate program” if the FCC would permit such use without allocation requirements.
• Most schools and libraries support higher Category 2 budgets.
• One amusing finding:  In response to the question “How do you stay up to date on program rule and process changes?” applicants have historically given high marks to USAC’s News Brief but, as shown below, the use of written instructions has fallen off dramatically over the past 5 years.
  
  

Proposed 3Q19 USF Contribution Factor:

The FCC proposed a 24.4% USF contribution factor for the upcoming third calendar quarter (DA 19-559).  As shown in the table below, this is the highest percentage the factor has reached and is a large jump from the preceding quarter.  The percentage increase is a function of significant changes in both the numerator (USF expenses, up 16.0%) and the denominator (interstate and international telecommunications revenues, down 10.5%).  The increase comes at a particularly unfortunate time as the FCC begins a proceeding to consider a cap on total USF funding.

USAC’s Schools and Libraries News Brief of June 14, 2019 lists USAC’s summer service provider training and the fall applicant and tribal training (see discussion above).