News of the Week

E-Rate for FY 2024:

The Form 471 filing window for FY 2024 closed on March 27th.  The preliminary demand total is $3.2 billion, up from $2.9 billion last year.  If USAC stays true to form, Wave 1 will be issued before the end of this month.

E-Rate for FY 2023:

USAC issued Wave 52 for FY 2023 on Thursday, April 18th, for $1.03 million for six applications.  Total funding is $2.58 billion. At this point, USAC has funded 98.1% of the originally submitted applications representing 94.3% of the dollars requested.

Upcoming Dates:

USAC’s E-Rate News Brief dated April 18, 2024, provides reminders and tips related to the PIA application review process including the following:

• A reminder for service providers to file their Form 473, Service Provider Annual Certification (“SPAC”) for FY 2024.  Note: Neither BEAR nor SPI invoices will be paid by USAC if the associated service providers have not filed their SPACs for that funding year.
• A brief overview of the PIA process including initial review, final review, and quality assurance.
• Suggestions to applicants to:
  • Review their Form 471s and submit, if necessary, RAL Modification Requests.
  • Review and update, if necessary, contract records.
  • Review and retain competitive bidding information.
  • Monitor your contact address and EPC account.
  • Monitor the status of your application using USAC’s E-Rate FRN Status Tool FY2016+.

The News Brief also indicates that the registration window for this fall’s three in-person USAC training sessions will open at 3:00 p.m. EDT tomorrow, April 23rd, with the following registration links:

• September 17th in Dallas, Texas.  Register.
• October 7th in Washington, D.C.  Register.
• October 29th in Fayetteville, Arkansas.  Register.