LISTSERV 16.5 - TLA-L Archives

Greetings!

I wanted to send out a few regular E-Rate updates and reminders about next steps in the E-Rate process for this upcoming fiscal year.

USAC has released nine waves of funding for the upcoming FY 2022-2023 cycle so far! If you haven’t yet received notification that you’ve been funded – don’t worry! USAC is still processing reviews and new waves are coming out often!

What are the next steps for the E-Rate process after I receive my FCDL? Once your FCC Form 471 application has been reviewed and everything is in order, USAC will issue their funding decision to you in the form of a Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL). Be sure to work with your service provider to determine how you will invoice for your services this coming year (will you request reimbursement and file an FCC Form 472 BEAR form or will you request the SPI billing method where your service provider discounts your bills?)

After you have received your FCDL with a positive funding commitment and your services have started for the funding year (July 1^st begins the funding year), you will need to file your FCC Form 486. This form confirms to USAC that the services you requested and were approved to receive have started for your library. You also certify your CIPA compliance on this form.

What if I disagree with my FCDL? If you disagree with the funding commitment decision, there is an appeal process. This is outlined in the letter attached to your FCDL notification email, but in short – you can appeal or request a waiver decision in your letter within 60 calendar days of the FCDL. This appeal process is available under “appeals” in your EPC portal.

What is CIPA? CIPA is the Children’s Internet Protection Act. This legislation was enacted by Congress in 2000 to address concerns about children’s access to obscene or harmful content over the Internet. If you receive discounts on your Internet access or internal connections through E-Rate, you must comply with CIPA. For more details about compliance, you can see the attached handout and review CIPA information from the FCC and also from USAC.

Where do I file the form 486? You file the FCC Form 486 in your EPC portal.

What is the deadline to submit the 486? If you have already received your FCDL and confirmed with your service provider that services will start in July (and you can truthfully make all of the certifications on the form) you can file the 486 early (before your listed ‘service start date’). Otherwise, you can file the 486 any time between when services begin (for most libraries, July 1^st) and the deadline. The deadline to submit the form 486 is 120 days after you receive your FCDL or 120 days after the service start date – whichever is later. For many of you with a service start date of July 1st, this means the deadline to file the 486 is 10/29/22.

Does USAC provide any training videos to help me file my FCC Form 486? Yes! You can find a step-by-step filing video tutorial here.

And for you visual learners like me, here is an overall picture of where we are in the total E-Rate process for this coming fiscal year:

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Best to you,

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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