Emergency Connectivity Fund Program Newsletter

December 16, 2022

Commitment Adjustment and Recoveries Functionality Within ECF

On Monday, December 12, USAC deployed its most recent release with functionality that handles Commitment Adjustments (COMADs) and Recoveries of Improperly Disbursed Funds (RIDFs) notifications for the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program. Additionally, the functionality for Demand Payment Letters (DPLs) was deployed. As with the E-Rate program, USAC and the FCC are required to reduce or recover ECF funding that is disbursed in violation of ECF Program rules or disbursed in error. 

All applicants and service providers that receive a COMAD or RIDF letter will have 30 days from the date of the COMAD or RIDF Letter to appeal the decision (see 47 CFR 54.1718). If a recovery is required after the 30-day appeal period, the applicant or service provider will receive a DPL, which will instruct how to make payment(s) to the FCC Commission Registration System (CORES) payment system. 

ECF Requests for Reimbursement Reminders and Tips

Invoicing Checklists – Check out our Request for Reimbursement ECF FCC Form 472 (BEAR) Checklist and Request for Reimbursement ECF FCC Form 474 (SPI) Checklist for step by step guidance on what to do after you receive a Funding Commitment Decision Letter.

Check SAM.gov Registration – We remind applicants and service providers, who agree to invoice on behalf of the applicant, to ensure your SAM.gov information and registration is updated and active. If you will be submitting ECF requests for reimbursement (i.e., ECF FCC Form 472 or ECF FCC Form 474) and have not completed or updated your SAM.gov registration, please do so now. Visit the SAM.gov website to complete or renew your registration. SAM.gov registrations must be renewed on annual basis. If not renewed, the account will be deactivated.

For more reminders and tips regarding requests for reimbursement, please visit the Reminders and Tips page on the ECF Program website. Following these reminders and tips will help streamline the review of your ECF request(s) for reimbursement and can help you receive the funds more quickly. Requests for reimbursement will be reviewed and processed on a rolling basis. 

For More Information

Please review the FCC’s Emergency Connectivity Fund FAQs, which the FCC continues to update as new questions are received.

More detail on the ECF Program is available in the FCC Order that established the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program. For information on the program, please visit EmergencyConnectivityFund.org, join our training sessions, and sign up for Emergency Connectivity Fund Program emails. 

Applicants and service providers can also contact the ECF Customer Service Center (CSC) with questions at (800) 234-9781 Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET or submit a case in the ECF Portal.

We appreciate your interest in the ECF Program and look forward to your ongoing engagement as we work together to close the Homework Gap!