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News of the Week

In This Week's Issue

Funding Status for E-Rate and ECF
- E-Rate for FY 2023
- ECF for 2021-2023
- E-Rate for FY 2024
Updates and Reminders
- Upcoming Dates

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In This Week's Issue

Funding Status for E-Rate and ECF
- E-Rate for FY 2023
- ECF for 2021-2023
- E-Rate for FY 2024
Updates and Reminders
- Upcoming Dates

Subscribe to News of the Week

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February 26, 2024

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 for E-Rate and ECF

E-Rate for FY 2023:

USAC issued Wave 44 for FY 2023 on Thursday, February 22nd, for $2.59 million. Total funding is now $2.59 billion. At this point, USAC has funded 97.8% of the originally submitted applications representing 93.1% of the dollars requested.

ECF for 2021-2023:

Total commitments for all three ECF windows are $6.47 billion.

E-Rate for FY 2024:

The Form 471 filing window for FY 2024 opened on January 17th and will close on Wednesday, March 27th, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Applications marked as “Wave Ready” will likely be included in the first funding wave for FY 2024 that is expected in late April.

Updates and Reminders

Upcoming Dates:

February 27	Extended invoice deadline for FY 2022 recurring service FRNs.
February 27	Due date for comments on the cybersecurity forms at the OMB.
February 27	Due date for reply comments on the FCC’s cybersecurity pilot NPRM (FCC 23-92).
February 28	Last day to file a Form 470 for FY 2024 so as to allow its posting for at least 28 days before the close of the Form 471 application window. Please note that any applicant waiting until February 28th to file a Form 470 would have to review all bids, select vendors, sign contracts, and upload them into EPC, create and file their Form 471, all on March 27th when the EPC is likely to be at its busiest. This is NOT a recommended course of action!
March 1	Form 486 deadline for FY 2023 Wave 28. More generally, the Form 486 deadline is 120 days from the FCDL date or from the service start date (typically July 1st), whichever is later. Upcoming Form 486 deadlines are: Wave 29 03/08/2024 Wave 30 03/15/2024 Wave 31 03/22/2024 Wave 32 03/29/2024
March 13	The interim SPIN 14366666 becomes available for use on FY 2024 Form 471 applications (see USAC’s E-Rate News Brief dated February 15, 2024).
March 14	FCC open meeting at which the Commission is expected to vote on creating a voluntary cybersecurity labeling program for wireless consumer products (see FCC release and our newsletter of September 25th).
March 27	Close of the Form 471 application window for FY 2024. To be considered as “In Window,” Form 471s must be filed and certified by 11:59 p.m. EDT.
August 29	Invoice deadline for ECF Window 3 applications.