FCC Form 473 Filing
Purpose of FCC Form 473
Service providers file an FCC Form 473 (Service Provider Annual Certification (SPAC) Form) to certify their compliance with Schools and Libraries (E-Rate) program rules. FCC rules require service providers to annually submit a SPAC Form for each Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN)/498 ID for every funding year they participate in the E-Rate program. See 47 C.F.R § 54.504(f).
When to File FCC Form 473
Service providers can file a SPAC Form after the FCC Form 471 application filing window opens for the upcoming funding year.
Deadline: Service providers must file their SPAC Form before any FCC Forms 472 (BEAR) or FCC Forms 474 (SPI) invoices can be processed and paid by USAC. USAC must have a SPAC on file for the relevant funding year in order to be able to disburse funds for an FRN for that funding year. Therefore, the SPAC Form should be filed no later than June 30 of the applicable funding year (i.e., June 30, 2025, for SPINs with FY 2024 FRNs) at issue to allow time for E-Rate participants to submit their requests for reimbursement (i.e., SPI and BEAR requests) for that funding year.
USAC has been directed to refer service providers to the FCC Enforcement Bureau (EB) who fail to file their SPAC Form. USAC will refer service providers after the applicable June 30th date for the failure to file the SPAC Form for that particular funding year.
How to File FCC Form 473
File this form in the E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC).
FCC Form 473 (SPAC) User Guide
If you need to file an FCC Form 473 associated with an application from funding year 2015 or prior, please create a customer service case.
After Filing FCC Form 473
View the status of your SPAC for a particular funding year in the Service Provider (SPIN) Download Tool or the Open Data FRN Status Tool FY2016 (“SPAC Status” field) to verify that USAC has successfully processed your SPAC form.