Upcoming E-Rate Dates
| July 27 |
Scheduled date for the implementation of multifactor authentication (“MFA”) as a requirement for E-rate applicants to access EPC or the BEAR Form system through a new “One Portal” MFA security system (see below). |
MFA Coming to E-Rate:
Following up on an earlier News Brief of June 26th, USAC sent emails to registered EPC and BEAR Form system users last week to announce that “MFA is Coming to E-rate on July 27.” The same information was also included in last Friday’s News Brief referenced below. As discussed in our newsletter of June 29th, “MFA” stands for multifactor authentication, a more secure means of logging into web portals that involves not only the traditional user name and password but an additional code sent to a user via email or text immediately prior to each login.
As implemented by USAC, the new MFA system will require users to log into a new “One Portal” dashboard with links, depending on a user’s “entitlement,” to EPC and/or the BEAR Form system. USAC indicates that users of both EPC and the BEAR Form should expect a second email with more information later this month.
FY 2020 Funding Cap:
An FCC Public Notice (DA 20-712) released last week formally directed USAC to fund all eligible Category 1 and Category 2 funding requests for FY 2020. The Notice was hardly surprising given that (a) the E-rate funding cap for FY 2020, adjusted for inflation, is $4.23 billion; (b) an additional $500 million in previously unused funds is available for carry-over into FY 2020; and (c) USAC’s preliminary estimate of demand for FY 2020 is only $2.91 billion.
With Congress still discussing legislation to appropriate $2-5 billion in non-USF funding for remote learning, it is worth noting that E-rate funding, as currently authorized, could provide over $1.5 billion of additional funding in FY 2020 alone if Congress would simply change (and/or clarify) E-rate’s statutory authority to fund off-campus Internet equipment and services.