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News of the Week

In This Week's Issue

Funding Status
- E-Rate for FY 2025 – Application Window
- E-Rate for FY 2024
- Cybersecurity Pilot Program – Application Window
Updates and Reminders
- Upcoming Dates
USAC Cybersecurity Pilot Program News Brief dated January 21st

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In This Week's Issue

Funding Status
- E-Rate for FY 2025 – Application Window
- E-Rate for FY 2024
- Cybersecurity Pilot Program – Application Window
Updates and Reminders
- Upcoming Dates
USAC Cybersecurity Pilot Program News Brief dated January 21st

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January 27, 2025

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

E-Rate for FY 2025 – Application Window:

Application Window: The Form 471 application window for FY 2025 opened Wednesday, January 15th, and will close on Wednesday, March 26th, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. For additional information on the FY 2025 filing window, including training opportunities, see USAC’s E-Rate Special Edition News Brief dated January 15th.

E-Rate for FY 2024:

Wave 40 for FY 2024 was released on Thursday, January 23rd, for $38.5 million. Total funding is now $2.56 billion. Currently, USAC has funded 97.8% of the originally submitted applications, representing 87.7% of the dollars requested.

Cybersecurity Pilot Program – Application Window:

Application Window: The CBR Form 471 application window for the Cybersecurity Pilot Program opens March 18th and will close September 15th. Total pilot funding is capped at $200 million for 707 applicants.

Updates and Reminders

Upcoming Dates:

January 28	Invoice and extension request deadlines for FY 2023 non-recurring services.
January 31	FY 2024 Form 486 deadline for Wave 24. The Form 486 deadline is 120 days after the FCDL date, or the service start date (typically July 1st), whichever is later. The next Form 486 deadlines for FY 2024 are: Wave 25 02/07/2025 Wave 26 02/14/2025
February 25	Extended invoice deadline for FY 2023 recurring service FRNs with approved extensions beyond the original October 28, 2024, deadline.
March 18	Opening of the Cybersecurity Pilot Form 471 application window.
March 26	Close of the E-Rate Form 471 application window for FY 2025.
July 1	Withdrawal deadline for selected Cybersecurity Pilot participants opting not to continue in the Program.
September 15	Close of the Cybersecurity Pilot Form 471 application window and deadline for filing the Form 484 Part 2.

FCC Selects Cybersecurity Pilot Participants and Sets Timetable

USAC’s Schools and Libraries’ Cybersecurity Pilot Program dated January 21, 2025, covered:

The upcoming Pilot Program overview training session on Tuesday, January 28th, at 3:00 p.m. EST (register).
A brief introduction to competitive bidding and the CBR Form 471 and CBR Form 484 Part 2.
Key dates in the Pilot application process including:
- January 17th — the date that the CBR Form 470 and CBR Form 484-2 both became available.
- March 18th — the opening date of the CBR Form 471 application window.
- September 15th — the closing date of the CBR Form 471 application window.