Hi folks,

I wanted to send out some further information about the ARPA Emergency Connectivity Funds (ECF). As you know, the application window opens today!

Will there be a special filing window? YES. The window will open on Tuesday, June 29^th and close on Tuesday, August 13^th. So, you have 45 days to apply. Applicants will be able to apply for eligible expenses/purchases made between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.

What pre-application steps do I need to take? As I sent in a previous message:

FCC Registration Number: If you don’t already have one, you need an FCC Registration Number.

How do I find my FCC Registration Number?

If you participate in E-Rate, you can find it in your EPC profile. Once logged in from your Landing Page, click on your entity name (hyperlinked) and you’ll be taken to a summary page for your entity. From there, you should see your FCC Registration Number. You do not need a new number if you have one already.
If you’re not sure if you have one OR you need to register for one, you can use this site to search for your entity or register for a number- https://apps.fcc.gov/cores/userLogin.do

Set up an ECF Portal Account (USAC is calling the portal accounts for the ECF program ECF portal accounts).

If you already have an EPC portal and participate in the E-Rate program, you don’t need to do anything. USAC will use your existing credentials to create an ECF portal for you. Your entity information and account management settings will automatically be transferred over. So, once USAC sets those accounts up for you (should be by the morning of June 29^th!), you should see the option to select the ECF program.
If you do not have an EPC portal already with the E-Rate program, you will need to call the Emergency Connectivity Fund Customer Support Center to set up an account. That number is (800) 234-9781 and they are available M-F, 8:00 am – 8:00 pm ET.

Register with SAM.Gov (System for Awards Management). It is recommended that you first search SAM.Gov to see if your organization is registered already. Note: you can apply for the ECF program before your SAM.Gov registration is approved but will not be able to receive reimbursements until it is approved. So, that means you don’t have to have registered with SAM.Gov when you apply for ECF, but you will need to before you seek reimbursement.

Be thinking about equipment/services you might need:

A few important points to know before you apply:

You can’t request support for equipment and services intended solely for on-campus (i.e. in library) use. Requests are meant for use at any off-campus location where library patrons are engaged in remote learning activities, including, but not limited to, the home. Libraries may use ECF support to purchase Wi-Fi hotspots for bookmobiles to provide off-campus (service off the library property) connectivity. You may not receive support for more than one fixed broadband internet access per location and one connected device and one hotspot per library patron. So, you might wish to purchase a Wi-Fi hotspot for a bookmobile for outreach or to set up a satellite branch at a community center to support a learning program. Libraries could also request laptops or tablets and hot spots for circulation (home use) to patrons participating in remote learning.

Certification for ‘unmet needs’: Libraries must provide patrons with a copy of an eligible use policy explaining that equipment or service is intended for library patrons who do not otherwise have access to equipment or services sufficient to meet the patron’s educational needs. Libraries will also have to certify that they are only seeking support for eligible equipment and/or service provided to library patrons who have signed and returned a statement saying that they would otherwise lack such access. Libraries will have to retain these signed documents for a 10-year period (same as the E-Rate documents must be retained).

There is a cap on how much you can be reimbursed for end user devices (i.e. laptops, tablets) of $400 per tablet/laptop. So, you can be reimbursed for those eligible end user items for up to that much. Anything over, you’ll have to cover. Chromebooks and iPads are eligible. Desktops and smartphones are not. Laptop and tablet computers must be capable of connecting to broadband internet in order to be eligible for funding, but they do not have to be capable of connecting via a cellular device. It is expected that connected devices requested will be Wi-Fi enabled and able to support video conferencing platforms and other software necessary for remote learning. Licenses included in the base price of connected devices are eligible for support, but separately priced licenses are NOT. Monthly service costs for already purchased Wi-Fi hotspots can be requested but only for services delivered from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022. However, if the hotspot devices themselves were purchased prior to July 1, 2022, they would not be eligible for reimbursement. More specific examples of questions regarding eligible services are listed on the FCC FAQ website.

There is also a cap on how much you can be reimbursed for hot spot devices (this is just for the physical device, NOT for the services) of $250 per device. There is NO cap stated for the internet services to the device, but it will be expected those should be reasonable.

If the requests for funds exceed the $7.1 billion amount allocated for the ECF project, applications will be prioritized based on the applicant’s category one E-Rate discount (with a 5% increase adjustment for rural entities). So, for those libraries especially in the 70-90% range, the odds are high that you would be funded.

Application process:

Once the application window opens (June 29^th), you can complete your Emergency Connectivity Fund FCC Form 471 (this will be similar to the E-Rate program’s Form 471). Users with a One Portal account already should be able to login to your portal, go through the two-step MFA (multifactor authentication) process and then have the option to select the Emergency Connectivity Funds program in your dashboard. Again, USAC will deploy the new ECF program option within the dashboards on June 29^th.
Applicants must both complete and certify the form during the filing window.

There will not be an FCC form 470 (the FCC isn’t requiring specific bidding requirements). HOWEVER, as stated above, if you have local procurement requirements, you will have to follow those (and certify you are in compliance). So, if your local city or county requires you to go out to bid for equipment/services at a certain threshold, you will be expected to follow those local rules. For example, if your city/county requires you to go out to bid for products/services over $5,000, you would have to follow those locally required procedures.

Much like the E-Rate process, you will submit your application, USAC will review it and then determine your funding and notify you about your funding decision.

Training/support:

USAC will offer e-learning modules and host weekly office hour sessions where applicants can ask questions and get support completing the application process.
USAC has created a separate website for information about the Emergency Connectivity Fund.
You can also sign up for Program Newsletters and Emails to keep up-to-date with alerts.
USAC has set up a separate Emergency Connectivity Fund Program Customer Support Center (CSC) at 800-234-9781, Monday – Friday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm EST.
The FCC has also just published an FAQ page on their website to answer specific questions about the ECF program.
The E-Rate Libguide that we provide has been updated with a page listing ARPA ECF resources as well (password to access is tnlibguides).

As always, should you have questions, please feel free to email your Regional Assistant Director (if you’re in the regions) or me. I will also plan to host a Q&A session as well in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned for further information!

Liz

Liz Thigpen Schreck | Director

Ocoee River Regional Library

State E-rate Coordinator for Public Libraries

Office of Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett

718 George St., NW, Athens, TN 37303

P. (423) 745-5194 – office; (423) 649-1583 - direct

Regional Toll Free - (855) 692-8186

Fax (423) 649-1501

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