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Hi folks,

This is a reminder about the FCC Form 472 (BEAR) form deadline for FY 2021 (fiscal year 2021-2022). If you file a BEAR form for reimbursement of your recurring services and haven’t yet requested reimbursements for fiscal year 2021-2022, this message is for you!

Be sure to review the full USAC Newsbrief from September 15^th for complete information, but in a nutshell:

FCC Form 472 (BEAR):

Friday, October 28, 2022 is the deadline to file an invoice or to request an invoice deadline extension (IDE) for most Funding Year (FY) 2021 recurring service Funding Request Numbers (FRNs).
Applicants who intend to file BEAR Forms for FY2021 recurring services should request an IDE if they do not have BEAR Form access through One Portal AND an approved FCC Form 498 (see August 18, 2022 E-Rate News Brief for information on how to submit the Applicant version of the FCC Form 498).
For information about BEAR Form access, go to the BEAR Form Access page.
For assistance in filing and certifying the applicant version of the FCC Form 498, you can call the Customer Service Center (CSC) at (888) 203-8100. Note that you cannot invoice USAC via a BEAR Form until you have provided proof of your banking information to USAC, which you can upload after you have certified the form. USAC must approve your FCC Form 498 before you can submit a BEAR Form.

And here are some answers to commonly asked questions about the BEAR forms!

How do I file a BEAR form?

If you are authorized to file a BEAR form on behalf of your library, you should have access to the FCC Form 472 (BEAR) portal when you log into your One Portal Dashboard. You’ll know you have access if you see this when you log in:

What if I don’t see the BEAR Form 472 portal when I log in?

For information about BEAR Form access, go to the BEAR Form Access page. You’ll need to request access if you don’t see the BEAR portal when you log in.
**You also probably want to file an IDE (Invoice Deadline Extension), as receiving access to file the BEAR form at this point could take you beyond the deadline.

How do I file for an Invoice Deadline Extension?

First log into the EPC
On your landing page, click the link to the billed entity record (the name in the “Welcome!” link near the top of the page or the first entry under the My Entities section).
Select the Related Actions menu and choose Invoice Deadline Date Extension Request
Enter the FRN(s) you would like to extend, separated by commas.
Click the Check Eligibility button. All of the FRNs from your list that are eligible for an extension will appear on a grid.
Click Submit.
Review the resulting News post for the results

What if the banking information has changed for my library?

I would first recommend filing an Invoice Deadline Extension request if you have to modify any current banking information as this takes some time and you don’t want to miss that deadline!
Your library’s banking information is found on the FCC Form 498. USAC reimburses you via electronic draft, so you want to be sure you’ve given them the correct information.
To review the information listed on a 498 for your library:

Log into your EPC portal
From your Landing Page, click on the “Records” tab across the blue top ribbon
Select the “FCC Forms 498” box
The current 498 on file should by hyperlinked. You can click on it to see the current information.
If you need to make modifications, you can click on the box to “Modify FCC Form 498”
If you do modify information, USAC will ask you to also send them (or upload) banking documentation so that they may verify the information you submitted.
You should receive an email from USAC that regarding the acceptance or rejection of the banking information submitted.

Remember, as always, you can contact the USAC Customer Service Center with questions at (888) 203-8100 (M- F, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern Time).

If you are a member of the Regional System, you can also contact your Regional Assistant Director with your questions as well.

And, of course, I’m also available to contact.

Happy invoicing!

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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