News of the Week

E-Rate for FY 2023:

The Form 471 application window for FY 2023 closed Tuesday, March 28th.  USAC has not yet released preliminary demand statistics, but a download from Open Data shows the following demand levels.

Many FY 2023 applications have already been reviewed, are currently categorized as “Wave Ready,” and are likely to be funded when USAC begins the FY 2023 funding waves later this month.

E-Rate for FY 2022:

Wave 51 for FY 2022 was issued on Thursday, April 6th, for $58 thousand (for one Head Start in Maryland).  By far, this was the smallest wave yet for FY 2022 — a strong indication that USAC has completed all but the most problematic applications for the current funding year.  Nationwide, USAC has funded 98.6% of the FY 2022 applications representing 96.8% of the requested funding.  Cumulative FY 2022 commitments to date are $2.86 billion. 

ECF for 2021-2023:

Total commitments for all three ECF windows are $6.62 billion.  Nationwide, USAC has funded 86.2% of the ECF applications representing 67.6% of the requested funding.  Window 3 applications are being funded down to the 65% rural band.  Total disbursements as reported on March 31st were $3.01 billion.

Upcoming Dates:

Funds For Learning’s 13th Annual E-Rate Survey:

For over a decade, Funds For Learning (“FFL”) has been conducting an annual nationwide survey asking schools and libraries to contribute their opinions and experiences regarding the E-rate program.  These surveys have become an increasingly important source of information for Congress, the FCC, and USAC to help them evaluate the E-rate program.  E-Rate Central believes that FFL’s survey is an extremely important vehicle, particularly for policymakers, to understand the needs of the E-rate community.  A copy of the 2022 survey results, as provided to the FCC, is worth reviewing to understand the survey’s importance.  We urge you to participate.

Here’s what you need to know about the 2023 survey:

• It should take less than 10 minutes to complete.
• Survey results are completely confidential.  Only aggregate data is reported.
• Funds For Learning, which like E-Rate Central is an E-rate consultant, does not use survey responses as a marketing tool.  We are confident in the integrity of FFL’s survey process and encourage you to participate.

Last year, responses were received from approximately 10% of the E-rate applicant base.  Given the importance of this survey to the entire E-rate community – applicants, service providers, administrators, and particularly policymakers – we would like to see even greater participation this year.

USAC’s E-Rate Special Edition News Brief dated April 6, 2023, discusses USAC’s plan to consolidate the historically separate BEAR and SPI invoicing systems into the E-Rate Productivity Center (“EPC”).  The consolidation is expected to take place in the May/June timeframe.  Prior to this occurring, USAC will announce the last date to submit invoices within the legacy system and the first date to begin submitting invoices within EPC.  In the interim, invoice submissions will be paused — hopefully only for a few days (unspecified) — to ensure a successful transition.

As a preliminary transitional step, USAC has already migrated user invoicing permissions from the legacy BEAR and SPI invoicing systems into EPC.  EPC Account Administrators are encouraged to review assigned BEAR (for applicants) and SPI (for suppliers) user permissions to make sure that the correct users have access to prepare and/or certify invoices.

Once invoicing is transitioned to EPC, the following changes will be noticed:

• Notifications about invoice submission statuses will be delivered to the users’ News Feeds.
• USAC inquiries about submitted invoices will be made available through EPC.  User replies, including attached documentation, will also be made through EPC.
• Invoicing for FY 2015 and earlier years cannot be handled through EPC.  Users needing to submit invoices for these earlier funding years are advised to file customer services cases (through EPC) to request instructions for handling such invoices.

The News Brief also provides instructions for applicants and service providers logging into EPC for the first time, reviewing EPC invoice permissions, and updating Account Administrator information (if needed).