First Applicants Finish Online FY2012 Applications

Congratulations to the first applicants that filed and certified an FCC Form 471 for FY2012 – including the Item 21 attachment(s) – online! Applicants that file early have a much better chance of being included in the earliest funding waves for a funding year.
The first successful online filers were:

• First individual school: PIMERIA ALTA ACADEMY, Nogales, Arizona
• First school district: WEST POINT PUBLIC SCHOOLS, West Point, Virginia
• First library: MONITEAU COUNTY/PRICE JAMES LIBRARY, Tipton, Missouri
• First consortium: CLARE-GLADWIN RESD, Clare, Michigan

Remember that the Item 21 attachment is a window filing requirement for FY2012 and must be submitted by March 20, 2012.

FY2012 Form 471 Application Filing Window Dates Announced

The Form 471 application filing window for Funding Year 2012 will open at noon on Monday, January 9, 2012 and will close at 11:59 pm EDT on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. The filing window will be open for 72 days.
Be sure to review the FY2012 Eligible Services List for details on products and services that are eligible for E-rate discounts in FY2012, and continue to check the USAC website for additional details.
We will issue the customary Letter to the Field around the time that the FCC Form 471 application filing window opens to provide filing information and deadline reminders related to the window.
Meanwhile, keep the following in mind:

• You can file an FCC Form 470 now if you are ready to do so; you don't need to wait for the window to open. To file an FCC Form 470 online, go to the Apply Online page and click on the "Create Form 470" button.
• You must wait 28 days after the FCC Form 470 is POSTED to the USAC website before you can close your competitive bidding process, select a service provider, sign a contract (if applicable), and submit an FCC Form 471. If you issue an RFP after the FCC Form 470 is posted, you must wait 28 days from the release of the RFP to select a service provider.
  • Tuesday, February 21, 2012 is the last day to post an FCC Form 470 to the USAC website or issue an RFP and still complete all of these actions before the window closes.
  • If you file your FCC Form 470 on paper, we need to RECEIVE it by Tuesday, February 14, 2012 to give us time to complete data entry before February 21, 2012.
• Item 21 attachments to the FCC Form 471 must be submitted by the close of the filing window. If you file your Item 21 attachment online, you must click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the last page before the window closes. OTHERWISE YOUR ITEM 21 ATTACHMENT WILL NOT BE SENT TO US.

You can find additional program guidance documents in the Reference Area.

Scheduled System Maintenance

The Apply Online page including Submit a Question, online forms, and most search tools will be unavailable Friday, November 18, 2011 at 8pm EST until 11PM EST for scheduled system maintenance. During this time users may be unable to file, certify, and search for certain forms online

FY2012 Eligible Services List

FY2012 Eligible Services List

FCC Approves Funding FY2011 P2 at 90%

USAC expects FY2011 Priority 2 commitments to start with Wave 18. For more information on funding commitments, please continue to watch the weekly Schools and Libraries News Briefs.

FY2012 Eligible Services List Released

On September 28th, the FCC has released the eligible services list (ESL) for funding year 2012 for the schools and libraries universal service program (E-rate). The ESL identifies the services and products that are eligible for E-rate funding. In the ESL Public Notice, the FCC proposed minor changes and other edits to the ESL to provide clarifications or additional information only, and did not change the eligibility status of any services in the E-rate program. By this order, the FCC adopts most of the clarifications proposed in the ESL Public Notice, with some minor modifications as described in DA-1160.

Agenda for Fall Applicant Trainings now available!

Fall Applicant Trainings Presentations

Agenda for Fall Applicant Trainings now available!

Fall Applicant Trainings Presentations

First FY2010 Wave with P2 Commitments at 80% This Week

On Wednesday, September 21, USAC will issue FY2010 Wave 67 Funding Commitment Decision Letters. This is the first wave to include commitments for approved Priority 2 (Internal Connections and Basic Maintenance) funding requests at the 80% discount level.

Reviews of FY2010 Priority 2 FRNs at discount levels below 80% will begin soon. Be sure to monitor the preferred mode of contact you indicated on your Form(s) 471 and respond promptly to PIA requests for information.

FCC Authorizes Additional Funds for FY2010 and FY2011

On August 22, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued Order DA 11-1354. This order directs USAC to begin making funding commitments for FY2010 Priority 2 services at the 80% discount level and to use funds from reserve accounts to fund eligible FY2010 Priority 2 requests at all discount levels.

USAC has already started the review of FY2010 Priority 2 services at the 80% discount level, and so should be able to start making commitments on approved requests as soon as possible. FY2010 Priority 2 requests at the 79% discount level and below that have been denied for insufficient funding will be returned to the PIA review process. No additional action is required at this time on the part of applicants with funding requests below 80%. PIA reviewers will be in touch with these applicants once they begin the review of these applications.

In addition, the FCC has directed USAC to roll over $850 million of unused funds to FY2011. At this time, we cannot determine the exact discount level we will be able to reach for Priority 2 requests for FY2011. We will of course provide updates as we are able to do so.

Again, no special action is required on the part of FY2010 applicants for Priority 2 requests at 79% and below that have already been denied. However, these applicants should be sure to monitor the preferred mode of contact they indicated on their Forms 471 and respond promptly to PIA requests for information.

FCC Establishes Comment Period for FY2012 Eligible Services List

On June 24, 2011 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice (DA 11-1096) establishing the comment period for the Funding Year 2012 Eligible Services List (ESL).

Comments on the draft ESL, which is attached to the Public Notice, are due to the FCC on or before July 15, 2011. Reply comments are due to the FCC on or before July 25, 2011. For information on filing comments with the FCC, please refer to the Public Notice.

The Public Notice includes a summary of the changes being contemplated. The FCC has also included a redlined version of the ESL which highlights each of the specific proposed changes. The edits to the ESL provide clarifications or additional information, and are not intended to change the level of eligibility for services from the previous funding year.