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 1st 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 1st) 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.
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:
[log in to unmask]">
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
[log in to unmask]
This electronic mail may be subject to the Tennessee Public Records Act, Tenn. Code Ann. §10-7-503 et seq. Any reply to this email may also be subject to this act.
The mission of the Office of the Secretary of State is to exceed the expectations of our customers, the taxpayers, by operating at the highest levels of accuracy, cost-effectiveness,
and accountability in a customer-centered environment.
Secretary of State Social Media Links:
www.facebook.com/TennesseeSecretaryofState
www.facebook.com/TNStateLibraryArchives/timeline