Announcements
August 28, 2025
E-Rate Systems (ECF and EPC) Outage September 6 and 7, 2025 due to System Maintenance:
The Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) site will be unavailable on Saturday, September 6, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use the system. We apologize for any inconvenience.
The E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable on Sunday, September 7, 2025 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use the system. We apologize for any inconvenience.
August 27, 2025
Requesting Service Delivery Deadline Extensions for FY2024 Non-Recurring Services (Other Than Special Construction)
The deadline for delivery and installation of non-recurring services (e.g., installations, equipment) is September 30 following the close of the funding year. For FY2024, the deadline for non-recurring services, other than special construction, is Tuesday, September 30, 2025 (the deadline for FY2024 special construction requests was June 30, 2025, the end of the funding year).
This service delivery deadline (SDD) can be extended for up to one year under certain circumstances, through an extension request. In some cases, the extension will be automatically made based on the Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) date or the revised FCDL (RFCDL) date.
Requesting Extensions
Service providers who are (1) unable to meet their service delivery deadline for reasons beyond their control or are (2) unwilling to complete delivery and installation because USAC withheld invoice payments on the services for more than 60 days, can ask the affected applicants to request a one-year extension with USAC, which must be approved.
Applicants can request the one-year extension by completing and certifying an FCC Form 500 (Funding Commitment Adjustment Request Form) on or before September 30, 2025 for FY2024 non-recurring services. If your service delivery deadline for a Funding Request Number (FRN) is approved and the deadline extended to September 30, 2026, USAC will automatically extend the invoice deadline for that FRN to January 28, 2027. There is no need to submit an invoice deadline date (IDD) extension request for an extended FRN when submitting an SDD extension request. If you do submit an IDD extension request at the same time, it will count towards your one-time invoicing extension, and you will not be able to request a second IDD extension request in the future if you need it.
If, as a service provider, you are aware of the need to request an SDD extension, work with your customer (the applicant) to have the FCC Form 500 completed and certified no later than September 30, 2025.
Automatic Extensions
If USAC issues an FY2024 FCDL on or after March 1, 2025, the SDD is automatically extended for one year to September 30, 2026. This also applies to RFCDLs issued on or after March 1, 2025, for one of the following:
- Approval of an appeal for a funding request that originally denied or reduced funding,
- Approval of a Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) change, or
- Approval of a service or equipment substitution.
The FCDL or RFCDL contains the extended SDD date when it is issued. You can also find the SDD by searching for the FRN using the E-Rate FRN Status Tool FY2016+.
August 27, 2025
Fall Training: Pre-Commitment Process September 25, 2025 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET
This webinar will discuss the E-Rate Pre-Commitment process. This includes how to get started, competitive bidding, applying for funding, and Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) review. This webinar is intended for program participants of all levels and will include a question-and-answer session. Register
August 27, 2025
Fall Training: E-Rate Program Overview September 18, 2025 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)
This webinar will provide an overview of the E-Rate application process and explain basic program concepts. We will also highlight the recent FCC Form 470 updates and managing your Category Two budget. This webinar is intended for program participants of all levels and will include a question-and-answer session. Register
August 27, 2025
Summer Deferral Period Ends September 5
Our summer deferral contact period is defined as the Friday before Memorial Day through the Friday after Labor Day. For 2025, the summer deferral contact period began May 23, and will end Friday, September 5. If participants were unable to respond during this period, the form or request was placed in a deferred status. Once the deferral period ends, USAC will continue its regular review process and, if it cannot make contact with applicants, it will continue reviewing with the information provided, which may result in a reduction or denial of funding.
July 24, 2025
Open Data Webinar Part 2: Creating Reports and Visualizations
This follow-up webinar to the Open Data Overview (Webinar 1) dives more deeply into using E-Rate’s tools. Participants can expect tangible examples on how to create custom reports and visuals for an enhanced program experience. To be successful in this webinar, you should have attended Webinar 1. Register.
July 24, 2025
Open Data Webinar Part 1: Open Data Overview
Enhance your E-Rate program experience with Open Data, USAC’s data sharing platform. This webinar is the first in a two-part series and provides an overview of the E-Rate specific tools and datasets in Open Data. Register.
June 26, 2025
2025 In-Person E-Rate Training
E-Rate experts will provide training, discuss program updates, and answer questions from new and experienced participants. Registration for these two in-person training events on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at 3:00 pm ET (this time has been adjusted to better serve program participants on both the East and West coasts). For more information on these events and to register, visit the In-Person E-Rate Training Events webpage.
E-Rate Training – Denver: September 9, 2025, at the Lowry Conference Center located in the Community College of Aurora – Lowry Campus, 1061 Akron Way, Denver, Colorado.
E-Rate In-Person Training – Washington, DC: September 16, 2025, at the Federal Communication Commission headquarters, 45 L Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. There will be an option to attend virtually.
June 19, 2025
FCC Form 470 and the Competitive Bidding Process Webinar
This webinar will provide E-Rate participants with information on how to file the FCC Form 470 and the E-Rate competitive bidding process. This webinar is designed for applicants and service providers of all levels of E-Rate experience, with a focus on beginner-level participants. Register.
June 19, 2025
Service Providers: File any SPACs for Prior Years
If you haven’t already filed your FCC Form 473 (SPAC) for FY2024 and earlier, the deadline to submit these forms is June 30, 2025. USAC will send a reminder to service providers on July 1 if they have not submitted a SPAC for any funding year, Funding Request Numbers they are associated with. Service providers will have two weeks after the reminder to file their missing SPACs, after which USAC begins the referral process to the FCC Enforcement Bureau. To learn more about service provider filing requirements, see last month’s news brief.
June 19, 2025
Category Two Funding Floors and Multipliers for Next Funding Cycle
FCC Wireline Competition Bureau issued a public notice on June 4 (DA 25-471) announcing the Category Two (C2) multipliers and funding floors for the upcoming five-year budget cycle that starts in Funding Year (FY) 2026 and runs through FY2030. For the FY2026- 2030 cycle, the C2 budget funding floor is adjusted from $25,000 to $30,175. For Tribal libraries, the funding floor is adjusted from $55,000 to $66,385.12. The school and school district C2 budget multiplier is adjusted from $167 per student to $201.57 per student, and the library and library system C2 budget multiplier is adjusted from $4.50 per square foot to $5.43 per square foot. Applicants will be required to validate their student counts or library square footage in the first year they apply for C2 support during the FY2026 – 2030 cycle.
May 23, 2025
International Society for Technology in Education’s ISTELive Conference (Texas)
Visit USAC at the International Society for Technology in Education’s ISTELive Conference (Texas), June 29–July 2, 2025. Event link.
May 23, 2025
Service Provider Webinar
This webinar is for Service Providers who are new to the E-Rate program. After attending this webinar, you will be able to: accurately describe what E-Rate is and the different steps of the E-Rate process, obtain a service provider identification number (SPIN), bid on projects, assist the applicant or beneficiary, certify compliance, and invoice USAC. Before attending this webinar, please review the E-Rate Program Overview webinar for a deeper understanding of the program. Register.
May 22, 2025
Invoicing: Applicant & Service Provider Training
The E-Rate program will host an Invoice Training Webinar. This webinar is designed to help E-Rate program participants (applicants and service providers) understand the invoicing process. The webinar will cover how to submit the FCC Form 472 (BEAR Form) and the FCC Form 474 (SPI Form), invoice deadlines, invoicing reviews, and more. After the presentation, there will conduct a live Q&A session. This webinar is recommended for Applicants and Service Providers at all E-Rate experience levels. Register.
April 23, 2025
FCC Suspends Seven Convicted of Fraud from E-Rate Program
On April 16, 2025, the FCC suspended seven individuals who were convicted of fraud related to their participation in the E-Rate program. From around 2010 to 2016, corporations controlled by these individuals requested over $35 million and received over $14 million in E-Rate funds, but they did not provide much of the equipment for which they billed the federal government. The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau suspended each individual from further participation in the E-Rate program and began proceedings to ban them from participation in the future.
April 17, 2025
American Libraries Association (ALA) Annual Conference (Pennsylvania)
Visit USAC at the American Libraries Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from June 26-30. Event link.
April 17, 2025
Beginning E-Rate Services
This webinar will provide E-Rate participants with an overview of the start of E-Rate services covering the FCC Form 486, CIPA guidance, and Post Commitment Adjustments, and EPC guidance. Register
April 10, 2025
Scheduled Maintenance on USAC.org
USAC will perform scheduled maintenance on USAC.org on Thursday, April 17 from 9 p.m. – midnight. During this time, users may experience disruptions or outages when visiting USAC.org. We apologize for the inconvenience.
March 20, 2025
2025 NTTA National Tribal Broadband Summit
Visit USAC at the 2025 NTTA National Tribal Broadband Summit on March 31–April 2, 2025 in Gila River, Arizona. Event link.
March 20, 2025
Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) and the Selective Review Processes
This webinar will provide E-Rate participants with an overview of the Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) process, including the FCC Form 471 review, preparing for a PIA review, handling PIA inquiries, the selective review process, and Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDL). Register