Funding Year 2021 FCC Form 471 Filing Window Closes March 25, 2021

Hello Idaho E-Rater's, 

A gentle reminder for those of you who are waiting to file your FCC Form 471's that the deadline is this Thursday March 25, 2021 at 11:59 pm ET. If you do not need to wait the 28-day filing obligation due to you are in a multi-year contract or you have already passed your 28-day and reached your Allowable Contract Date...do not wait any longer. File your Form 471 today and get it certified. 

If you need any assistance or have questions...please let me know. 

Thanks, 

Todd

FCC Begins Homework Gap Rulemaking Process

On March 16, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission issued a Public Notice seeking comment on the application process for funds made available by the COVID-19 relief bill signed into law on March 11.  The newly created $7.1 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund will be used to support broadband Internet service and equipment used for remote learning.

In its Public Notice, the FCC requests comment on numerous aspects of administering the distribution of the new funds, including:

• Product and service eligibility
• Eligible users and locations
• Application forms and filing deadlines
• Reimbursement processes, including potential reimbursement for purchases made since January 27, 2020
• Prioritization of funding commitments should demand exceed available funds
• CIPA compliance for locations receiving discounted services

The FCC’s Public Notice may be viewed here. Public comments are due April 5, 2021, and reply comments are due April 23, 2021.

There is a webinar scheduled if you'd like to register and listen.  

Join the E-rate Guides at Funds For Learning for a webinar providing a detailed analysis of the FCC’s request for comment at 2:00pm Eastern time on Thursday, March 18. The event is free of charge, and you can register at the following address: https://fundsforlearning.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_x4ZsnWz3TjeSeR2bBVATeg

Funding Year 2020 - Funding Wave 45 Released!

Hello Everyone,

USAC has released the weekly Funding Wave for Funding Year 2020. 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 #45 for FY2020.      

Funding Commitment Total for Idaho: $2,685,767.24

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, 2020.

• DO NOT put a Service Start Date prior to July 1, 2020 even if services started before.

• If services start after July 1, 2020 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 look into it and see if I can get more information.

FRN	Applicant Name	BEN	Committed $$
2099077116	Meridian Joint School District	142726	$2,172,920.75
2099077117	Meridian Joint School District	142726	$402,956.49
2099077118	Meridian Joint School District	142726	$109,890.00

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

Thanks,

Todd 

EBB Vendor Registration Deadline Announced

Again, not specifically related to the E-Rate program, but could have a potential connection. On March 4, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission issued a Public Notice announcing milestone dates for non-eligible telecommunications carriers (non-ETCs) to submit priority applications to participate in the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program. The application portal will open on March 8, 2021 and the deadline for priority applications will be March 22. Priority applicants will have the opportunity to receive approval prior to the start of household enrollments, with non-ETC applications filed after the priority deadline being “expeditiously reviewed on a rolling basis.” 

The FCC Public Notice may be found here, and more information about the EBB program here.

FCC Adopts Emergency Broadband Benefit Order

The FCC issued its Emergency Broadband Benefit (“EBB”) Order (FCC 21-29) last Friday with the plan to have the program up and running in less than 60 days. The EBB program (a $3.2 billion component of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021) will provide discounts * on internet service of up to $50/month ($75/month in Tribal areas) for low-income households.**  

Although EBB is not an E-rate program, the FCC strongly encourages schools and libraries to play a major role in the promotion of EBB on behalf of their low-income students and patrons.  There are several possible levels of participation.

• At the simplest level, schools and libraries can reach out to low-income families, particularly those with students requiring internet access for remote learning, to alert them to the availability of EBB internet discounts. Eligible families already subscribing to internet services need to make sure that their internet provider will be participating in EBB. Families without internet should be encouraged to subscribe to discounted internet services.
• Schools, in particular, can work with local internet providers to: (a) encourage the providers’ election to participate in the EBB program; (b) identify needy students; and (c) help EBB providers in validating family eligibility. Validation will be important to participating providers, who have access to a Lifeline National Verifier database, but who can also rely on schools to verify NSLP (or CEP) eligibility.

Most importantly, schools (or libraries) that are already paying for home internet access for eligible student (or staff) families, or that are prepared to do so, can lower the cost of those services and/or increase bandwidth by taking advantage of the EBB discounts. The key provision of the EBB Order dealing with “bulk” billing arrangements is addressed in Para. 45. Note that an EBB provider in these cases is required to obtain (and retain) documentation from the families, either directly or more likely through the bulk purchaser (school or library), consenting to the use of those families’ EBB discounts in this manner.

 

* Discounts will be available for six months following the “emergency period,” as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, or until the EBB funding is depleted.

** Discounts up to $100 per family are also available on connecting devices subject to certain conditions that may require further clarification.