FY2020 Application Filing Window to Open January 15, 2020

Hello Everyone, 

USAC has announced the FCC Form 471 Filing Window to open on January 15, 2020. The admin window does not yet have a close date and that will be announced soon. 

FY2020 Application Filing Window to Open on January 15, 2020

The FY2020 application filing window will open at noon EST on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 and close at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 25, 2020.

The administrative window will close shortly before the filing window opens. We will provide the exact date and time in the near future. However, we strongly encourage applicants to update their profile information in EPC as soon as possible.

Dates to consider as part of your planning process: 

• Form 471 window opens January 15, 2020
• Form 471 window closes March 25, 2020
• Last day to file a FCC Form 470 is February 26, 2020

Happy Holidays to everyone. Enjoy your time with family and friends. 

Todd 

Category 2 Further Explanation for FY2020 and FY2021

Hello Everyone, 

Below is a detailed list of the new FCC Category 2 Order explanation that I hope helps with your planning for FY2020 and what is to come for FY2021. I know there is a lot here, but these are important details for planning purposes and the effective use of each budget dollars. Try to take advantage of the additional funding for FY2020. 

Please contact me if there are ANY questions with this information. 

Happy Filing! 

This Order is a Win for All!

• Made the C2 Budget Program permanent in FY2021 forward
• Created 5-year standardized budget cycle schedule starting in FY2021
• FY2021 – FY2025
• FY2026 – FY2030
• FY2031 – FY2035 (and so on…)


• Created specific guidelines to govern FY2020 for “transition year”

FY2020 C2 “Transition Year”

• Extends the initial 5-year test period by 1 year for all applicants
• Even if you began using your C2 funding in FY2015
• Any unused funds remaining from the first 5 years can be used plus
• 20% prorated additional funds made available for FY2020 –this year only
• The budgets will be zeroed out and reset in FY2021
• Funds from first cycle cannot be carried forward into FY2021
• Schools still use per student multiplier for each building at the prorated amount
• $195.63/student PRE-discount
• Libraries still use square foot multiplier for each building
• $6.52/sq. ft for libraries w/IMLS locale codes 11, 12, 21
• $2.99/sq. ft for all other libraries
• Minimum floor amount per school/library = $11,998.43
• Numbers reflects inflation adjustment + 20% prorated amount
• Remember – You must then deduct the PRE-discount amount of approved funding through FY2019 to arrive at available FY2020 C2 PRE-discount funds
• Calculate budgets by school/library building
• Cannot commingle building budgets
• Equipment/service must be installed in the building whose budget “pays” for the purchase
• NIFs not eligible for their own C2 budgets but may house shared network equipment
• Shared equipment must be allocated reasonably among budgets of buildings using the equipment
• Part-time students may be counted in addition to full time students to claim maximum daily enrollment of school
• Eligible services are same as FY2019 but additional clarifications may be forthcoming regarding licenses/support and maintenance
• Maintenance and MIBS are permanently eligible

FY2021 C2 Budget Calculation Overview

• All budgets will be zeroed out and reset for the next 5-year period FY2021 – FY2025
• The new multipliers will be LOWER than FY2020 and set to a per student = $167.00
• Library per square = $4.50 for all libraries
• Incorporates 2.1% inflation adjustment, but eliminates 20% prorated additive from FY 2020
• Minimum building amount increased to $25,000
• Same multipliers in effect for all 5 years
• Based on historical inflation rates and will be adjusted at beginning at each new 5-year budget cycle
• Steady C2 enrollments at the option of the applicant
• Validated first year of applying for C2 funding or in any year the numbers change
• May update numbers to take advantage of increases in enrollment or square footage
• BUT, Enrollment and NSLP numbers still must be updated annually to compute discount percentage
• Overall result is improved predictability and manageability of C2 budgets
• Budgets will be administered and managed by applicants at the district-wide or library system-wide level
• No longer required to “match” equipment costs to each individual school’s or library’s budgets
• No longer required to allocate costs of shared equipment among buildings using equipment
• No longer required to report equipment transfers to USAC using Form 500
• Still must maintain 10-year asset register
• Must document in your records any transfers including the associated reason within 3 years of the date of purchase
• Each building has an increased budget floor of $25,000
• Schools with 149 or fewer students benefit
• Libraries with 5,555 square feet or less benefit
• All District and Library Systems (large and small) receive benefit of minimum budgets

C2 Budget Calculations Applicant w/11+ Buildings

• Districts – 2 options
• Calculate total number of enrolled students x $167
• Calculate # schools x $25,000
• Use larger of the 2 numbers for your budget
• Library Systems – 2 options
• Calculate total square footage x $4.50 or
• Calculate # libraries x $25,000
• Use larger of the 2 numbers for your budget

 

C2 Budget Calculations Applicant w/10 or Less Buildings

• Districts – 3 options
• Calculate total number of enrolled students x $167
• Calculate # schools x $25,000
• Hybrid - Calculate by school and use higher amount
• Use larger of the 2 numbers for each building in your budget
• Library Systems – 3 options
• Calculate total square footage x $4.50 or
• Calculate # libraries x $25,000
• Hybrid - Calculate by library and use higher amount
• Use larger of the 2 numbers for each building in your budget

Rules That Remain the Same

• No changes to eligible services but some clarifications may be forthcoming
• Non-instructional facilities (NIFs) continue to be ineligible for C2 funding
• Must deduct proportional cost of NIFs’ use of any shared equipment
• I don’t think there will be any Form 471 changes for FY2020, but form will be updated for FY2021
• No changes to discount matrix
• No changes to expanded funding year to purchase and install equipment
• FY2020 = April 1, 2020 – September 30, 2021
• But BEARs/SPIs must wait to be submitted until July 1, 2020

Funding Year 2019 Wave #36 Released!!!

Hello Everyone,

USAC has released the weekly Funding Wave for Funding Year 2019. Congratulations to the following list of Idaho entities. The list below are those Idaho applicants who’s Funding Requests (FRN) are included in Funding Wave #36 for FY2019.

Funding Commitment Total for Idaho: $4,400.00 

To complete the Form 486, please follow the directions listed here:

Log into EPC to file the Form 486. The Form 486 is NOW available in EPC. As with FY2016 and later, no paper FCDL forms are being mailed for FY2019.

Steps to take and items to pay close attention to on the 486:   

• Go to your landing page
• Look for the “Form 486” listed in the upper right corner.
• Choose only the FRNs that are ready for filing.
• Modify the service start date(s) as appropriate. Typically, this is July 1, 2019.
• DO NOT put a Service Start Date prior to July 1, 2019 even if services started before.
• If services start after July 1, 2019 please put that start date.
• Choose the correct CIPA certification based on your situation. Be careful here to ONLY select the one that applies...not all three.
• Review your form carefully before you certify it.

A funding wave will be released each week until all funds are exhausted.

If you were NOT included in this wave or any previous wave, it only means your application hasn't yet been reviewed. Continue watching for an email for notification that your PIA questions are available in EPC. As soon as the questions are answered, you'll likely be in an upcoming funding wave. If there are concerns with your funding requests, send me an email and I can looking into it and see if I can get more information.

FRN	Applicant Name	BEN	Committed $$
1999068406	ONEIDA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 351	142598	$ 4,400.00

Please let me know if there are any questions on your funding of Form 486.

Thanks,

Todd

FCC Releases New Category 2 Order

Hello Everyone,

On Tuesday December 3, 2019, the FCC released the much-anticipated Category 2 Order, outlining the rules for Funding Year 2020 and beyond. As a whole, there is much to celebrate! FY2020 will be a “transition” year with basically the same rules as the last 5 years, except the C2 budget multiplier will have a 1-year “additive.” The big changes come in FY2021 when a new, set 5-year C2 cycle will begin, all C2 budgets will be reset, budgets will be calculated district-wide instead of by school, the minimum building amount will be increased significantly, and much more.

Below is a summary of the 2020 and 2021 changes in the rules for Category 2. Over the next week, I’ll be digging into more details and clarification about applying for Category 2.  

FY 2020 (only)

• Extended the initial 5-year C2 cycle for a 6^th year (FY2020). 
• During this year, C2 budgets will continue to be calculated at a school/library building level.
• Unused C2 budgets from initial 5-year cycle will be available for FY2020, plus a 20% increase in the C2 budget multipliers which I believe, based on my reading of the Order, will be:
• Schools: $195.63/pp/school 
• Libraries: $6.52/sq. ft. for libraries with locale codes 11, 12, 21. All other libraries $2.99/sq. ft.
• Minimum/building: $11,998.43
• Formula: C2 multiplier (x) school building enrollment, minus any committed C2 funding since in FY 2015 (pre-discount amounts) for each school.

• BOTTOM LINE:  FY2020 is a use-it or lose-it year for C2, with a 1-time bump in available funding, so please use it.

FY 2021 – FY 2025

• Establishes a set 5-year C2 cycle, FY 2021 – FY 2025, for all applicants.
• All C2 budgets will be reset in FY 2021 (and at the beginning of each new 5-year cycle).  No unused C2 budgets from prior 6-year C2 cycle will be carried forward.
• C2 budget will be calculated at district or library system level, instead of at building level.
• Budget multiplier for FY 2021 – 2025 (will not be adjusted annually for inflation):
• Schools: $167.00/pp
• Libraries: $4.50 (ALL libraries will use this amount)
• Minimum/building: $25,000 (increase from $9,200)
• Schools with 10 schools or less can take advantage of the higher budgets for each school (enrollment or minimum)
• Enrollment will remain static for entire budget cycle, based on the first year a district applies for C2. Optional: schools may update C2 budget enrollment in subsequent year(s) if enrollment increases.  
• No funding available for non-instruction facilities (no change).
• Equipment transfer restrictions will be eliminated beginning in FY 2021 but applicants must record reason and date of transfer and update asset inventory. No notice to USAC is required.

Let me know if there are questions.

Todd