USAC’s E-Rate News Brief dated November 26, 2024, focuses on Form 486 deadlines. It notes that the deadline for filing Form 486s for the large number of FY 2024 applications approved in Waves 1-10 was October 29th. Technically, the Form 486 deadline for any FRN is 120 days after the later of FCDL date, July 1st, or the service start date. For most FRNs approved in Waves 1-10, the critical date for calculation was July 1st; 120 days later was the October 29th deadline date. As indicated in the Upcoming Dates section above, funds approved in later waves have later Form 486 filing deadlines.
Funded applicants missing that deadline are advised to file their Form 486s as soon as possible. Technically, when a Form 486 is late-filed, USAC will reset the service start date to 120 days prior to the actual late-filing date. For most services, a later service start date will mean a reduction or loss of funding for services received before the revised service start date.
In an effort to reduce the number of late-filed Form 486s — and as discussed in the News Brief — USAC has a policy of sending Form 486 Urgent Reminder Letters to applicants who appear to have missed their regular Form 486 deadlines. A Reminder Letter gives an applicant a second chance to submit the Form 486. The revised deadline is 15 days after the date of the Reminder. Form 486 Urgent Reminder Letters are the only reprieves provided by USAC for E-Rate deadlines. Should you receive one, do not ignore it.
Last Tuesday’s News Brief also discusses:
- A reminder that the Administrative Window is now open.
- A tip for seeing an invoice’s paid or unpaid status.
- The status of relief implementation for hurricanes’ Helene and Milton.
- An overview of the required competitive bidding process.
- A list of 2024 training recordings available.