September "Back To School" E-Rate Update

First, I know everyone is working extremely hard with the back to school changes - both on campus and off – to ensure that our kids continue to be educated. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I know E-rate is the very last thing on your mind these days, so I’ll try to keep this update brief. 

SECA Petitions FCC for More FY 2020 E-rate Funding for Internet:  Thanks to everyone who completed my brief survey about needing additional Internet bandwidth due to the pandemic. Based on your feedback, the state E-rate coordinators submitted a formal request to the FCC, asking them to allow applicants to submit new Form 471s or supplement their original 471s if they need to increase their Internet bandwidth over what was requested on the originally requested. Nationwide, we estimate that 10-15% of applicants are expected to double their Internet capacity. In addition, we also urged the FCC to extend the gift rule waiver through June 30, 2021 so those of you receiving free or upgraded services or donated equipment can keep them beyond September 30, 2020.  I will keep you posted on both requests.

Category 2 for FY 2021:  Category 2 budgets are changing beginning in FY 2021.  A quick recap: 

• All C2, 5-year budgets will be reset beginning in FY 2021 and no unused C2 budgets from prior 6-year C2 cycle (FY 2015 – 2020) will be carried forward. 
• To calculate your available 5 year, pre-discount budget, multiply $167 per total district enrollment (libraries multiply $4.50 by total square footage).
• The minimum per school/library amount is $25,000.
• School districts and library systems with 10 or fewer schools/libraries can take advantage of higher budgets for each school/library (enrollment or minimum).
• USAC has released a C2 budget tool that appears to be accurate in its calculations, taking into account all possible options for each E-rate applicant.
• I have a C2 detailed explanation on a previous blog post.

Fall E-rate Training:  Unfortunately, the fall in-person beginner E-rate training will be conducted online this year. I don’t have the details finalized yet but they will be announced soon. 

Have You Setup Your One Portal Account Yet:  At the end of July, USAC launched One Portal, a new sign-in system with multi-factor authentication (MFA) that applicants must use to access both the EPC and BEAR systems. If you haven’t done so already, please take 3 minutes and set up your One Portal account now so you’re all set when it comes to submitting BEARs or any upcoming form in EPC such as the FY 2021 Form 470. The set up process requires several steps and I encourage you to use the One Portal/MFA Set Up Guide to walk you through the process. 

Let me know if there are any questions. 

~Todd