E-Rate for FY 2025:

The Form 471 filing window for FY 2025 closed on March 26th.  Preliminary demand, as summarized in USAC’s annual letter to the FCC, was $3.2 billion.  This is well below the year’s $5.06 billion funding cap set earlier this month by the FCC.  This demand total will increase over the next month or two, as the FCC grants waivers on late-filed applications certified within two weeks of the window closing, then decrease as pending requests are reduced during the PIA review process.  We would expect the first wave of FY 2025 funding commitments to be issued by USAC by the end of this month.

E-Rate for FY 2024:

Wave 52 for FY 2024 was released on Thursday, April 17th, for $9.68 million.  Total funding is now $2.66 billion.  Currently, USAC has funded 98.4% of the originally submitted applications, representing 92.2% of the dollars requested.

Cybersecurity Pilot Program – Application Window:

The Form 471 application window for the Cybersecurity Pilot Program opened on March 18th and will close on September 15th, 2025.  Total pilot funding is capped at $200 million for 707 applicants.

Upcoming Dates:

Funds For Learning’s 15th Annual E-Rate Survey:

For fifteen years, 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 proved to be an 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 important vehicle, particularly for policymakers, to understand the needs of the E‑Rate community.  We encourage all E-Rate applicants to participate.

Here is what you need to know about the 2025 survey:

• It should take less than 10 minutes to complete the thirty questions.  All but the last open-ended question is multiple choice.
• 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 roughly 10% of the E-Rate applicant base.  Given the importance of this survey to the entire E-Rate community — applicants, service providers, administrators, and policymakers — we would like to see even greater participation this year.  Most specifically, in light of pending FCC decisions on critical E-Rate issues, we urge responders to pay particular attention to:

• Questions 8 and 9 on hotspot service; and
• Questions 22 and 23 on continued or expanded eligibility.

FCC Suspends Seven Convicted of E-Rate Fraud:

In 2023, the Department of Justice sentenced seven individuals, who had previously pled guilty to E-Rate fraud, to prison terms ranging from four years to time served (see our newsletter of March 6, 2023).  At the time, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau suspended all seven defendants from the E‑Rate program and began proceedings to ban them from future participation.

Last week, the FCC formally issued suspension notices to all seven individuals and initiated three-year debarment proceedings (see FCC News and related notices).  Technically, the suspensions and debarments would apply, not only to E-Rate, but to the other Universal Service Fund (“USF”) programs.

USAC’s Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program Newsletter dated April 14, 2025, covered:

• A brief review of the CBR Form 470 and competitive bidding requirements.
• A brief review of the CBR Form 484 Part 2, due no later than the CBR Form 471 deadline of September 15.
• Appeals and waiver requests.
• Two FAQs that remind Cyber Pilot applicants that:
  • SAM.gov registrations must be current to invoice for equipment and services.
  • Cyber participants may withdraw from the Pilot without liability (unspecified) if done by July 1, 2025.

[Last week, the FCC received, and accepted, the first withdrawal request from a Cyber Pilot participant.]

USAC’s E-Rate News Brief dated April 17, 2025, covered the following topics:

• A reminder to vendors to file their Form 473 Service Provider Annual Certifications (“SPACs”).
• An overview of the Program Integrity Assurance (“PIA”) review process including the initial review, final review, and quality assurance.
• Next steps in the FY 2025 application process, if necessary, including:
  • Reviewing the Form 471 and using the RAL Modification Request process to correct or update information (see special subsection).
  • Checking your FCC Registration Number.
  • Reviewing your costs and cost allocations.
  • Preparing for PIA review.
  • Monitoring your contact email address and EPC account.
• Updating your contract award date to aid quicker PIA reviews.
• USAC’s upcoming training and outreach.