FY 2017 E-rate "Admin Window" to Open Soon

Hello Everyone,

In the next few days, USAC will be announcing the opening of a special “Administrative Window” during which time schools -- not libraries or consortia – can update their schools’ enrollment and NSLP in EPC. This special Admin Window is required in order to avoid having two separate Form 471 filing windows for FY 2017.  The Admin Window is expected to be open for 3-4 weeks, and after that, the school data will be “locked down” and the Form 471 window will open. After the Admin Window closes, it will not be possible to update this data in the EPC profiles because that data will be linked to active library and consortia applications. Please review your schools’ data carefully to ensure that it is accurate. 

As we discussed in the fall training, USAC is expected to allow applicants to use the enrollment/NSLP data that is currently in EPC from FY 2016 – OR – use the updated data that will be in the Idaho NSLP Valid file (you’ll have to use the full data set from one year or the other – you can’t pick and choose which schools use which years’ data). Therefore it is important that you carefully review last year’s enrollment/NSLP data to see which is more advantageous to your district. Although unlikely, your discount may have decreased from last year. Another major reason to not update your data is if the enrollment has declined this year and thus your Category 2 budgets will be less. 

Reminder: You should NOT update your FY 2017 enrollment/NSLP data in EPC now – you must wait for the Admin Window to open.   

Also, at some point before your Form 471 is filed, you’ll want to review the Connectivity Data in your EPC Profile to ensure it’s still accurate. If nothing has changed, you don’t have to do anything. If something has changed, you’ll want to update it before the Form 471 is filed.   

Let me know if there are questions with this process. I can be reached at tlawrence@sde.idaho.gov. 

Have a great day! 

Audio Version of Idaho E-Rate Training Presentation

Hello Everyone and Happy 2017! Its hard to believe we are in 2017 already. I wanted to let everyone know I finally completed the audio version of the E-Rate presentation I did across the state. I have posted to the link below for those who were not able to attend the training in person or if you need a quick refresh on a topic. I broke the presentation up into sections to make it easier to find something and time commitments. My goal is to have this audio version available closer to when the the training has commenced.

Presentations can be found here: https://goo.gl/OtM2VW

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the presentations.

Thanks,
Todd

FY 2016 Form 486s Due Dates for Funded Applicants

FY 2016 Form 486s Due Dates for Funded Applicants

~ Be Careful of CIPA Certifications ~

This is a reminder that the FY 2016 Form 486 deadline is due and overdue for many ID applicants.  The 486 certifies receipt of services/CIPA compliance, and is due within 120 days of the funding commitment letter date or the start of services (whichever is later). If your Form 486 is OVERDUE file the form ASAP so you don’t lose E-rate funding.

Also, be careful when clicking on the CIPA certifications at the end of the form and don't get “click happy” and checked the 3^rd CIPA certification indicating that CIPA doesn’t apply. USAC is now holding those applications until the applicant calls to have them cancelled so they can refile.  Below is a screenshot of the certifications – be sure to ONLY click the 1^st button.

A few important notes:

* If you have not yet received your FCDL, you cannot submit a 486 for those FRNs still pending SLD decision. When those applications are funded, those applicants will then have 120 days from the date of the FCDL to submit their 486.

* If you want discounted bills, you must file your Form 486 right away so the service provider can invoice USAC.

* The new 486 is really easy to use as the fields are now all pre-populated.  

* If you have an FRN that you no longer need, please file a Form 500 to release the funds (and get off of future lists!).  The easiest type-in version is at:  http://www.e-ratecentral.com/formsRack/app/Form500.asp.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me!

Thank you, 

Todd 

Confusion About Invoice Deadline Extension Request E-mails

Yesterday, USAC sent bulk Invoice Deadline Extension Request (IDER) decision e-mails to applicants nationwide and the contents of those e-mails has created mass confusion.  I hope this message sheds a little light on why you may have – or may not have – received an e-mail.

1)  If you submitted an IDER using Submit a Question between October 26 – October 31, USAC has not yet issued decision e-mails on those yet.  They’re likely coming next week.  The IDER decision e-mails that were issues yesterday were for those submitted using Submit a Question on or before October 25.

2)  The IDER decision e-mails that were issued yesterday contained 3 different types of “decisions” as follows:

• Approved
• Dismissed – Dismissed because an IDER request had already been approved via another request.  There was no need for USAC to issue a second approval and so it was “dismissed.”
• Denied – Denied because the funding cap had already been exceeded. 

3)  If you received an e-mail but never submitted an IDER, it’s most likely because your vendor submitted an IDER for one or more of your FY 2015 FRNs and you were simply sent a courtesy copy of the decision e-mail.  In my opinion, USAC shouldn’t have copied applicants on these.

4)  If you submitted the IDER in the Online BEAR tool, you received instant approval and would NOT have received an e-mail from USAC yesterday unless a separate IDER was submitted (either by you or by your vendor).

If you want to see whether your IDER has been approved, go to:  http://www.sl.universalservice.org/utilities/FRN_CurFundExt.asp and select Year 18 - FY 2015 from the drop down list.  You can then search by FRN number. 

The bottom line is this:  If you submitted a FY 2015 invoice deadline extension request on or before October 31, 2016, it has been or will be approved.  USAC is not denying ANY IDER requests for which there is still funding remaining in the funding commitment.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at tlawrence@sde.idaho.gov 

Happy Election Day! 

FCC Releases An Extension to the Invoice Deadline Extension Request (IDER) Deadline for FY2015 BEAR Form

The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces that it is extending the deadline for E-rate participants with an October 28, 2016 invoice deadline for Funding Year 2015 to request an extension of the invoice deadline due to technical problems that might have prevented parties from filing. Entities and service providers with an October 28, 2016 invoice deadline now have until 11:59 p.m. on October 31, 2016 to submit extension requests.

More details on the extension: 
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2016/db1028/DA-16-1234A1.pdf

File for Extension Now If You Haven't Received FY2015 BEAR Payment

File for Extension Now If You Haven't Received FY 2015 BEAR Payment

~ Absolute Deadline is THIS Friday ~

The FY 2015 invoice deadline for recurring services is this Friday, October 28.  This Friday is ALSO the deadline to request an extension.  USAC cannot grant any extension request that is submitted after 11:59 p.m. on Friday.  Therefore, I strongly recommend that everyone who hasn’t received their FY 2015 BEAR funding for recurring services request an extension – even if you’ve filed your BEAR but haven’t yet been paid.  There is absolutely no harm in requesting an extension and then not needing it.  Listed below are all FY2015 applicants that haven’t received reimbursement yet for recurring services, along with the invoice deadline date.  Note: If you filed an extension request via Submit a Question, it may still be listed as 10/28/2016 because it hasn’t yet been processed (you will receive an approval e-mail soon).

HOW TO REQUEST AN INVOICE DEADLINE EXTENSION:

If you have a PIN: Request the invoice deadline extension online to receive instant approval.  Must log into the Online BEAR System to submit the extension request (http://www2.sl.universalservice.org/bear/login.aspx).

If you don’t have a PIN: You must request the extension using Submit a Question http://www.slforms.universalservice.org/EMailResponse/EMail_Intro.aspx.  Under 'Topic Inquiry' select "Invoice Deadline Extension Request" > Select “Other”  > Complete the information cover page, and then in the text box, list the FRN (or multiple FRNs) for which you need an extension.  FRN numbers are included in the attached spreadsheet.

There are several things that you need in order to file the FY 2015 BEAR and if you don’t have all of these as of today, YOU SHOULD FILE AN INVOICE DEADLINE EXTENSION REQUEST.

Approved Form 498 (Direct Deposit Banking Form) – This takes about 2 weeks to get approved.  Check the status here:  http://www.usac.org/sl/tools/498-ID-Status.aspx (give it a minute to load and then use Control F to search for your BEN on the list).  Note:  Certified means submitted, not approved.  If you submitted the 498, be sure to also go to this site to upload a copy of your voided check: http://efileweb.usac.org/ContributorManagement/V1/BankValidation.  An approval e-mail will be sent about 4 days after you upload the check.  This form only needs to be submitted once – not annually.

BEAR PIN – If you don’t have a PIN to access the BEAR Form in the Legacy System, you must request one from USAC.  BEAR PINs take several days to be e-mailed from USAC.  Instructions for requesting PINs:  http://www.usac.org/sl/tools/forms/pin.aspx.

Below is a list of entities that must file their Invoice Deadline Extension Requests by this Friday, October 28. There may be some entities listed that already filed the request, but it hasn’t yet been processed by USAC.  If your entity’s name is on the list below, locate your FRN’s and file an extension if you haven’t already.

Applicant Name

AMERICAN FALLS JOINT DIST 381

ANOTHER CHOICE VIRTUAL CHARTER

BLAINE COUNTY SCHOOL DIST 61

CASTLEFORD SCHOOL

COEUR D'ALENE TRIBAL SCHOOL

COUNCIL LIBRARY DISTRICT

IDEA ADMINISTRATION OFFICE

JEROME JOINT SCHOOL DIST 261

MACKAY JOINT SCHOOL DIST 182

MEADOWS VALLEY SCHOOL DIST 11

MERIDIAN TECHNICAL CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL

MIDDLETON PUBLIC LIBRARY

PARMA SCHOOL DISTRICT 137
WHITE PINES CHARTER SCHOOL

Idaho E-Rate Fall Training Schedule

Hello Everyone,

I have organized a schedule for the 2016 fall E-Rate training for Idaho. Below are the locations and dates for the training sorted by regions. Please review the registration link below and select the site that is most convenient. You are welcome to share this link or the blog link with anyone that you may believe will have an interest in participating.

  

Schedule:

• Region 1 - October 27th @ Coeur d` Alene School District Midtown Ctr. (1505 N. 5th St)
• Region 2 - October 26th @ University Inn in Moscow (1516 Pullman Rd)
• Region 3 - November 3rd @ Middleton High School (1538 Emmett Rd)
• Region 4 - November 10th @ Jerome School District office (125 4th Avenue West)
• Region 5 - November 9th @ Snake River High School (922 W Hwy 39 Blackfoot)
• Region 6 - November 8th @ Springhill Suites in Rexburg (1177 S Hwy 191)

Registration Form: http://goo.gl/forms/2efaK5k43w

Housekeeping items for trainings:

• Training is 4 hours long – 9am to 1pm to allow you time to head back to your site after we’re done  
• If you are attending at a school, please check-in at the main office for pass and directions to room
• Bring your device is optional. Wi-Fi will be provided.
• Coffee and water will be provided   
• Feel free to bring a snack   

You will receive an email receipt of your selection. If your selection needs to change to a different date/location, simply send me an email and I will make the change.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.