About USAC

1/15/2019 – My Portal Outage Due to System Maintenance Friday, January 18

1/15/2019 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - January 15

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 6:00-8:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 15 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this maintenance.

1/15/2019 – National Verifier Hard Launches in Second Launch States and Territory

1/11/2019 – News Brief Issued

1/11/2019 – January Scheduled System Maintenance

1/11/2019 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: January 14-15

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable from Monday, January 14 at 8:00 p.m ET through Tuesday, January 15 at 1:00 a.m. ET for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

1/9/2019 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: January 13-14

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable from Sunday, January 13 at 7:00 p.m ET through Monday, January 14 at 1:00 a.m. ET for monthly system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC. 

We apologize for any inconvenience.

1/8/2019 – New Webinar! FCC Form 499-Q Basics

Register here for the January 15, 2019 webinar designed to walk 499 filers through the basics of filling out an FCC Form 499-Q.

This is a new training class for 2019, lead by a senior USAC contributions analyst.   The next quarterly filing is due on February 1, 2019.  If you are a new 499 ID holder, this training is a great opportunity to learn about this FCC Form.

1/8/2019 – National Verifier System Maintenance, January 13

1/7/2019 – USAC Is Open for Business As Usual; All Deadlines Remain in Effect

1/4/2019 – News Brief Issued

1/3/2019 – Newsletter for January 2019

FY2019 Filing Window Opens February 1, 2019

The initial filing window period for FY2019 is February 1 – May 31, 2019. This means that you must submit your funding requests (FCC Forms 462 or 466) between February 1 and 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2019 for funding consideration. We highly encourage you to submit your funding requests as early as possible in the filing window period. You can begin the application process and submit all other application forms for FY2019 (FCC Forms 460, 461, or 465) before February 1.

If the total amount of qualifying funding requests received during the initial filing window period for FY2019 does not exceed available RHC Program funding, we will determine if there will be additional filing windows.

Prepare to submit your funding request by attending the Funding Request Best Practices Webinar! This webinar will go through both the FCC Form 462 and 466 in My Portal and cover important tips for submitting a compliant funding request by the initial filing window close on May 31, 2019. Register here! 

Submit FY2019 Request for Services Forms Now!

Applicants applying for funding for FY2019 who are going through the competitive bidding process can submit their FCC Form 461 (HCF Program) and FCC Form 465 (Telecom Program) now! The first day to submit these forms was January 1, 2019-- six months before the start of the funding year, which begins July 1, 2019.

Prepare to submit your Request for Services Form with the following resources:

• December 2018 Request for Services Best Practices Webinar recording and slides
• RFP Checklist (HCF Program only)
• Network Plan Checklist (HCF Program only)
• Search Posted Services tool: HCF Program and Telecom Program

FCC Form 461 Rollover for FY2019

This year’s rollover functionality is a courtesy extended to HCF applicants who completed the Request for Services or FCC Form 461 process in FY2018 and would like to use the FY2018 approved FCC Form 461 in FY2019. Those requesting the FY2018 FCC Form 461 rollover functionality must meet the following requirements:

• The FCC Form 461 must have been submitted for FY2018, and previously reviewed and approved by RHC in FY2018.
• The FY2018 FCC Form 461 and/or competitive bidding process must have complied with the FCC’s competitive bidding rules.

Applicants requesting the FCC Form 461 rollover understand that their FY2019 FCC Form 462 may be denied if the FY2018 FCC Form 461 and/or competitive bidding process is found to have been in violation of the competitive bidding rules.

The rollover process will only be applied to the FCC Form 461, not the FCC Form 462. Applicants must still submit a FY2019 FCC Form 462 if they wish to apply for HCF Program funding in FY2019.

How to submit your FCC Form 461 rollover request:

• Send email to: RHC-Assist@usac.org 
• Subject line of email: FCC Form 461 Rollover Request App #
• Include within the email body: HCP #, FCC Form 461 application #
• Once emailed, the rollover request may take 5-8 business days to review and process.

If approved, your request will be confirmed via email from an RHC staff member.

FY2018 and FY2017 Information

Update on FY2018

RHC has begun issuing decisions on FY2018 funding requests, and will continue to do so on a rolling basis. RHC will communicate any updates via the email addresses the applicant has submitted in My Portal. Due to demand for RHC Program funds, there will not be a second filing window period for FY2018. The RHC Program will not accept additional funding requests (FCC Forms 462 or 466) for FY2018. All qualifying single year funding requests with no upfront costs will be fully funded for FY2018 with no proration. 

FY2017 FCC Forms

Important Reminders

Register for RHC 101 - Wednesday, February 20 at 2:00 p.m. ET

Are you or a colleague interested in learning more about the RHC Program? On February 20, 2019, we will be hosting a webinar for beginners called “RHC Program 101: An Introduction to the RHC Program.” This webinar will cover the basics of the program including eligibility requirements and how to get started. Register today!

Watch the RHC Program Eligibility Best Practices Webinar

On November 29, 2018, the RHC Program Team hosted an RHC Program Eligibility webinar. This webinar covered best practices for submitting the first form in the RHC Program process: the FCC Form 460 (HCF Program) and the FCC Form 465 (Telecom Program). If you are a new applicant ready to get started, watch the recording and download the slides here!

What to Do if You Receive an Information Request

FCC Forms submitted with incomplete or missing documentation will not be reviewed, and RHC reviewers will reach out to all account holders (the primary and all secondary and tertiary account holders associated with that HCP) with a request for additional information (“Information Request”). Information Requests are sent to collect any missing documentation, address deficiencies, or to ask clarifying questions about the FCC Form. If you receive an Information Request, you must respond to it within 14 calendar days. Once you respond, the RHC reviewers will work with you, to the extent they can, to ensure that they have all the necessary documentation to complete their review. Failure to respond within the 14 calendar day timeframe will result in an automatic denial, so be sure to meet that deadline.

LOA/TPAs Must Be Up to Date

In order to be considered eligible for funding in FY2018, Letters of Agency (LOA) and Third Party Authorizations (TPA) must be up to date through FY2018, at a minimum. Be especially mindful if you are an HCP using a consultant, a consortium leader, or a consultant filing on behalf of a consortium leader. Before submitting a form, please check to ensure your authorization documents are up to date. FCC Forms 462 and 466 submitted with expired LOAs or TPAs will result in applicants receiving Information Requests.

• Download a Sample TPA or Sample LOA

1/3/2019 – Submit FY2019 Request for Services Now!

Applicants applying for funding for FY2019 who are going through the competitive bidding process can submit their FCC Form 461 (HCF Program) and FCC Form 465 (Telecom Program) now! The first day to submit these forms was January 1, 2019-- six months before the start of the funding year, which begins July 1, 2019.

Prepare to submit your Request for Services Form with the following resources:

• December 2018 Request for Services Best Practices Webinar recording and slides
• RFP Checklist (HCF Program only)
• Network Plan Checklist (HCF Program only)
• Search Posted Services tool: HCF Program and Telecom Program

12/22/2018 – News Brief Issued

12/21/2018 – Special Edition News Brief - FY2019 Application Filing Window Opens January 16, 2019

12/21/2018 – Online Applicant Training Series Now Available

Today, we launched the first of a new online training series which provides an online, self-paced learning option for those program participants who were unable to attend our fall training events or who want a refresher. 

The online applicant training series is now available in our Online Learning Library. A service provider training series will be available in 2019. We encourage you to view the offerings in this series and let us know what you think by using the evaluation at the end of each training module.

12/21/2018 – Lifeline Program Newsletter - December 2018

The December 2018 issue of Lifeline Program News is now available. Sign up to receive the newsletter by email in the Subscription Center.

December headlines:

• FCC and USAC Announce National Verifier Full Launch Date for Launch 2 States and Territory
  
• National Verifier Live in Four Additional States
  
• National Verifier Outreach Lists - Sign up for Future Launch Information
  
• FCC Form 555 Updates and Reminders
  
• 2019 Webinar Schedule Now Available
  
  
  

12/20/2018 – E-rate Client Service Bureau Closed: December 24-25

12/20/2018 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - December 20

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 6:00-11:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 20 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this maintenance.

12/20/2018 – Call Center Holiday Hours

12/18/2018 – December 2018 Contributor Invoice Summary Now Available Online

The December 2018 invoice summary for contributors is now online and available for filers to view in E-File. 

Watch this quick video to learn how to access your online invoice summary

12/17/2018 – Preparing for FY2019 - Webinar Recording Now Available

If you missed the Preparing for Funding Year (FY) 2019 webinar on December 12, 2018, you can use this link to register and watch a recording. This webinar was designed to help applicants and service providers prepare for the Funding Year 2019 application filing window. 

Recommended for: Applicants and service providers

E-rate Experience Level: All levels

12/14/2018 – Focus on Participant Experience

USAC is continuing its ongoing efforts to better serve E-rate participants by adding extra applicant and service provider support and implementing enhancements to improve the experience for the E-rate community. As the end of the calendar year approaches, while we are committed to addressing as many open participant issues as possible before 2019, we appreciate the E-rate community’s patience and cooperation as we work open cases.

Some of these open cases may require a change in reviewers once USAC transitions to its new vendor for E-rate business process operations later this month. All review activities, including program integrity assurance (PIA), appeals, funding commitment waves and payments, will continue during the transition.

USAC will reach out to E-rate participants that have active applications, invoices or post-commitment requests, to share additional information about any changes related to the transition to the new vendor. We will continue to share information with affected participants by email, especially if the transition to the new vendor will impact those participants’ open E-rate activities. For example, beginning in January, all open forms and requests (including invoices, appeals and post-commitment requests) will be assigned to new reviewers.

USAC is aware that some E-rate participants have open, inactive forms and requests pending with the program. These items will also transition to the new team and participants will receive outreach at a later time.

We appreciate the support and cooperation of the E-rate community as we work with our new vendor on these adjustments.

12/14/2018 – News Brief Issued

12/14/2018 – FCC Announces 1st Quarter 2019 Contribution Factor Decrease to 20.0 Percent

12/14/2018 – 498 ID Status Tool - ISSUE RESOLVED

The 498 Status Tool is now operational.

Visit this webpage to use the 498 Status Tool.

12/13/2018 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - December 13

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 6:00-9:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 13 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this maintenance.

12/13/2018 – Hard Launch Date for Second Launch States

12/12/2018 – Focus on Participant Experience

In 2018, USAC improved the E-rate Program's operational efficiency by refining EPC to process applications more quickly and adjust to large volumes. As we look toward 2019, we will build on those advances with a steady focus on strengthening the E-rate participant experience.

We will serve participants better by adding extra applicant and service provider support, transitioning our E-rate business process operations and implementing enhancements to create a better experience for the E-rate community. USAC has expanded our participant support teams to ensure a smooth and orderly transition process with minimal impacts on the E-rate community.

E-rate participants with open applications, invoices or post-commitment requests will receive additional information to help guide them through the transition. USAC is working hard to address as many open participant issues as we can before the end of the year, and we appreciate the E-rate community's patience as we analyze and work open cases.

Most participants will not notice any changes in their E-rate experience during the transition and will see customer service improvements when it is complete.

12/12/2018 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: December 16-17

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable from Sunday, December 16 at 7:00 p.m ET through Monday, December 17 at 1:00 a.m. ET for monthly system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC. We apologize for any inconvenience.

12/11/2018 – NLAD December Monthly Maintenance Canceled

12/10/2018 – My Portal Outage Due to System Maintenance Wednesday, December 12

12/7/2018 – News Brief Issued

12/7/2018 – Newsletter for December 2018

FY2019 Filing Window Dates Announced!

The initial filing window period for FY2019 is February 1 – May 31, 2019. This means that you must submit your funding requests (FCC Forms 462 and/or 466) between February 1 and 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2019 for funding consideration. We highly encourage you to submit your funding requests as early as possible in the filing window period. You can begin the application process and submit all other application forms for FY2019 (FCC Forms 460, 461, or 465) before February 1.

If the total amount of qualifying funding requests received during the initial filing window period for FY2019 does not exceed available RHC Program funding, we will determine if there will be additional filing windows.

Update on FY2018

RHC has begun issuing decisions on FY2018 funding requests, and will continue to do so on a rolling basis. RHC will communicate any updates via the email addresses the applicant has submitted in My Portal. Due to demand for RHC Program funds, there will not be a second filing window period for FY2018. The RHC Program will not accept additional funding requests (FCC Forms 462 or 466) for FY2018. All qualifying single year funding requests with no upfront costs will be fully funded for FY2018 with no proration.

My Portal continues to accept Telecom Program FCC Form 467 (Connection Certification Form) and Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) Program FCC Form 463 (Invoice and Request for Disbursement Form) for applicants approved for funding in FY2017. 

HCF Program Invoicing Deadline Approaching

Please keep in mind that 11:59 p.m. ET December 31, 2018 is the last day to submit the FCC Form 463 to USAC if you had a funding commitment end date of June 30, 2018. Don't know when your HCF Program invoicing deadline is? Use the look-up tool on our website! Download the Invoicing Deadline Spreadsheet.

Watch the latest HCF Program Invoicing Webinar! This webinar covered how to submit the FCC Form 463 for healthcare providers (HCPs) and service providers. Watch the webinar and download the slides here. Watch our step-by-step invoicing guide video series. These videos go over the submission process of the FCC Form 463, and we highly recommend viewing them if you are submitting your FCC Form 463 for the first time or just simply need a refresher in anticipation of an upcoming deadline: Individual HCPs, Consortia.

FCC Form 461 Rollover for FY2019

This year’s rollover functionality is a courtesy extended to HCF applicants who completed the Request for Services or FCC Form 461 process in FY2018 and would like to use the FY2018 approved FCC Form 461 in FY2019.

Those requesting the FY2018 FCC Form 461 rollover functionality must meet the following requirements:

• The FCC Form 461 must have been submitted for FY2018, and previously reviewed and approved by RHC in FY2018.
• The FY2018 FCC Form 461 and/or competitive bidding process must have complied with competitive bidding rules.

Applicants requesting the FCC Form 461 rollover understand that their FY2019 FCC Form 462 may be denied if the FY2018 FCC Form 461 and/or competitive bidding process is found to have been in violation of competitive bidding rules.

The rollover process will only be applied to the FCC Form 461, and not the FCC Form 462. Applicants must still submit a FY2019 FCC Form 462 if they wish to apply for HCF Program funding in FY2019.

How to submit your FCC Form 461 rollover request:

• Send email to: RHC-Assist@usac.org 
• Subject line of email: FCC Form 461 Rollover Request App #
• Include within the email body: HCP #, FCC Form 461 application #
• Once emailed, the rollover request may take 5-8 business days to review and process.
• If approved, your request will be confirmed via email from an RHC staff member.

Upcoming My Portal Updates for FY2017 Invoices (HCF Program)

A mid-December deployment will show true-up payments* in the “FCC Form 463” tab for HCPs and the “USAC Review” tab for service providers. For HCPs, true-up payments are indicated by an invoice number starting with “2017” with the date they were distributed in the “Last Edited” column. For service providers, the true-up invoice number begins with “2017” and in the “Vendor/Applicant Invoice Number” column, any true-up payments will read “True up + the original vendor invoice number.” For screenshots and a verbal explanation, please watch our FY2017 Invoicing Best Practices webinar.

*True-up payments were off- cycle payments issued when the FCC released their most recent RHC Program Order raising the cap for FY2017, which fully funded all previously pro-rated qualifying funding requests. The true-up payments covered the difference between payments already made and the adjusted amounts without the proration. True-up payments only applied to applicants who received a commitment for FY2017.

PQA Requests for Information Are Going Out

The 2018 Payment Quality Assurance (PQA) assessment program is underway. PQA is a program that assesses RHC Program payments made on invoices submitted during the past 12 months to verify that the payments were properly made – in other words, that all program rules were followed correctly when the payment was authorized and disbursed.

For disbursements made each month, a certain number of payments will be chosen, and applicants will be asked to provide specific documentation – for example, customer bills that support invoices submitted to USAC to verify that those payments were made correctly. It is important that you maintain proper documentation in order to be able to respond correctly and completely to PQA requests.

The email notifying applicants whose payments have been selected for PQA were sent in December from the domain name usac.i-sight.com. Please check your email and respond promptly if you receive an email request from USAC's PQA Program. Also check your spam folder or junk email folder to see if it contains an email from this domain. This will help expedite your review.

• Do not hesitate to contact your reviewer if you have questions. Contact information is provided in the email.
• Also, contact your PQA reviewer if you are unable to respond by the deadline. 

Winter Training Series Dates Announced!

We highly recommend attending our upcoming online training series, specifically designed to prepare applicants for the FY2019 filing window. These trainings are filled with resources, useful information, best practices, what to expect from the USAC review process and more! Attending these trainings is the best way to prepare for the FY2019 filing window.

• Request for Services Webinar: Wednesday December 12, 2018 at 2 p.m. ET. Get ready for the start of the FY2019 filing window period by joining our Request for Services Best Practices webinar. We will focus on the FCC Forms 461 and 465 process and participants will be able to ask questions: Register here.   
• Funding Request Webinar: Date January 16, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. ET Join us to prepare for FY2019. This webinar will focus on the FCC Forms 462 and 466: Register here.

Important Reminders

Program Eligibility Best Practices Webinar

On November 29, 2018, the RHC Program Team hosted an RHC Program Eligibility webinar. This webinar covered best practices for submitting the first form in the RHC Program process: the FCC Form 460 (for the HCF Program) and the FCC Form 465 (for the Telecom Program). The webinar recording and slides will be posted to our Online Learning Library soon!

Watch RHC 101

On September 26, 2018 the RHC Program Team hosted RHC 101: An Introduction to the RHC Program webinar. This webinar covered the basics of the program including eligibility requirements and how to get started. Were you unable to make it? The recording and slides are posted on our website here.

What to Do if You Receive an Information Request

Applicants must upload all required documentation with the submission of their FCC Forms 462 or 466. FCC Forms submitted with incomplete or missing documentation will not be reviewed, and RHC reviewers will reach out to all account holders (the primary and all secondary and tertiary account holders associated with that HCP) with a request for additional information (“Information Request”). Information Requests are sent to collect any missing documentation, address deficiencies, or to ask clarifying questions about the FCC Form. If you receive an Information Request, you must respond to it within 14 calendar days. Once you respond, the RHC reviewers will work with you, to the extent they can, to ensure that they have all the necessary documentation to complete their review. Failure to respond within the 14 calendar day timeframe will result in an automatic denial, so be sure to meet that deadline! 

LOA/TPAs Must Be Up to Date

In order to be considered eligible for funding in FY2018, Letters of Agency (LOA) and Third Party Authorizations (TPA) must be up to date through a minimum of FY2018. Be especially mindful if you are an HCP using a consultant, a consortium leader, or a consultant filing on behalf of a consortium leader. Before submitting a form, please check to ensure your authorization documents are up to date.

FCC Forms 462 and 466 submitted with expired LOAs or TPAs will result in applicants receiving Information Requests.

• Download a Sample TPA or Sample LOA

12/3/2018 – FUSF Reseller Certification Template Now Available

USAC has developed a template for wholesale carriers to obtain information from their resale customers regarding the status of their contributions to the federal Universal Service Fund (USF) on the revenue associated with the specific service(s) provided to resellers.

You can find the template on our Handouts and Reference page. 

This template is provided as a voluntary resource only.  Companies can develop their own template for documentation purposes related to revenue reported in Block 300 of the FCC Form 499-A. 

12/3/2018 – PQA Requests for Information Are Going Out

The 2018 Payment Quality Assurance (PQA) assessment program is underway. PQA is a program that assesses RHC Program payments made on invoices submitted during the past 12 months to verify that the payments were properly made – in other words, that all program rules were followed correctly when the payment was authorized and disbursed.

For disbursements made each month, a certain number of payments will be chosen, and applicants will be asked to provide specific documentation – for example, customer bills that support invoices submitted to USAC – to verify that those payments were made correctly. It is important that you maintain proper documentation in order to be able to respond correctly and completely to PQA requests.

The email request notifying applicants whose payments have been selected for PQA are being sent in December from the domain name usac.i-sight.com. Please check your email and respond promptly if you receive an email from USAC's PQA Program. Also check your spam folder or junk email folder to see if it contains an email from this domain. This will help expedite your review.

• Do not hesitate to contact your reviewer if you have questions. Contact information is provided in the email.
• Also, contact your PQA reviewer if you are unable to respond by the deadline.  

11/30/2018 – News Brief Issued

11/29/2018 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - November 29

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 6:00-8:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 29 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this maintenance.

11/28/2018 – 2018 E-rate Service Provider Training - December 3-5

USAC’s annual service provider trainings will take place at USAC’s office located at 700 12th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005 on December 3-5, 2018. For those of you joining us at USAC next week, here are a few tips and reminders to help you prepare for the training.

December 3 and December 5 are identical full-day trainings designed for participants of all proficiency levels; attendees should be registered for only one of these two trainings. December 4 is a half-day afternoon training specifically for beginner participants who want the very basics of the program. Attendees must attend the session(s) for which they are confirmed as registered. To reiterate, training dates and times are:

• Monday, December 3: 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. (general session for all proficiency levels)
• Tuesday, December 4: 12:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. (beginner session covering program basics)
• Wednesday, December 5: 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. (repeat of general session for all proficiency levels)

Registration: Registration opens 30 minutes before the day’s training as noted above. Please bring a photo ID. The name on USAC’s registration records must match the name of the person who attends the training. We are at full capacity and will not be able to accommodate walk-in registrations.

Check-in Process:

1. Enter the 12th Street lobby at 700 12th St. NW, Washington, DC 20005.
2. Go to USAC’s registration desk in the lobby to check in and receive your name badge and training agenda. 
3. Then, go to the security desk in the lobby to receive your security pass.
4. A USAC representative by the elevators will guide you to the training event.

NOTE: If you are attending two days of training, you will need to check in with USAC and receive a security pass at the beginning of each day.

Download the Training Materials: Training materials are available on our website. We will be going paperless this year, and will not have printouts. Please plan accordingly.

Food: Attendees should make their own arrangements for meals. USAC will provide recommendations for nearby breakfast and lunch options within short walking distance, of which there are many.

We look forward to seeing you next week. For more information on our fall training events, please reference our 2018 Applicant & Service Provider Trainings page.

11/26/2018 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) *TRAINING SITE* Outage Due to System Maintenance: November 26

11/20/2018 – Updating Applicant Profiles - Webinar Recording Now Available

If you missed the Updating Applicant Profiles webinar on November 20, 2018, you can use this link to register and watch a recording.This webinar was designed to help applicants update their E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) profiles in preparation for the Funding Year 2019 application filing window. The presentation provides an introduction to entity profiles, including information about what profile data should be updated during the administrative window.

Recommended for: New applicants and applicants that want to review the basic elements of entity profiles and administrative window updates

E-rate Experience Level: Beginner

11/20/2018 – December Webinar - Registration is Now Open

Join USAC for the monthly E-rate Program webinar. In December, we will discuss how to prepare for the Funding Year (FY) 2019 application filing window.

This webinar is designed to help applicants and service providers prepare for the FY2019 application filing window.

Recommended for: Applicants and service providers

E-rate Experience Level: All levels

11/19/2018 – November 2018 Contributor Invoice Summary Now Available Online

The November 2018 invoice summary for contributors is now online and available for filers to view in E-File. 

Watch this quick video to learn how to access your online invoice summary

11/19/2018 – E-rate Client Service Bureau Closed: Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23

11/19/2018 – Lifeline Program Newsletter - November 2018

The November 2018 issue of Lifeline Program News is now available. Sign up to receive the newsletter by email in the Subscription Center.

November headlines:

• Minimum Service Standards Increase December 1
  
• Sign Up for Future Launch National Verifier Outreach Lists
  
• National Verifier Full Launch in Initial Launch States
• Webinar on December 12: FCC Form 555
  

11/16/2018 – News Brief Issued

11/16/2018 – FCC Releases FY2019 Eligible Services List

11/16/2018 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - November 16-17

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 9:00 p.m. ET on Friday, November 16 through 10:00 a.m. ET on Saturday, November 17 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this outage. We apologize for any inconvenience.

11/15/2018 – Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance, Nov. 16 & Nov. 27.

NLAD, National Verifier, and LCS Scheduled System Maintenance, November 16
 
The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD), National Verifier, and the Lifeline Claims System (LCS) will be unavailable for use due to scheduled system maintenance starting Friday, November 16 at 10 p.m. until Saturday, November 17 at 2 a.m. ET.

NLAD, National Verifier, and LCS pre-production and production environments will not be available for use during this time.

Additional National Verifier Pre-Prod Scheduled System Maintenance, November 16

The National Verifier pre-production environment will be unavailable for use starting Friday, November 16 at 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. ET.

The National Verifier's pre-production environment will not be available for use during this time.

Users of NLAD’s National Verifier workflow will not be able to enroll, transfer, or update subscriber information in NLAD’s pre-production environment. NLAD UI and API users can continue to access reports and perform de-enrollments during this time.

After this outage, users will be able to test the collection of latitude and longitude coordinates to resolve AMS failures in the pre-production environment. On Tuesday, December 4, National Verifier users will see this change in the production environment and must provide latitude and longitude coordinates to resolve AMS failures for online applications.

National Verifier Scheduled System Maintenance, November 27

The National Verifier will be unavailable due to scheduled system maintenance starting Tuesday, November 27 at 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. ET. Certain functionality in NLAD will also be impacted.

The National Verifier’s pre-production and production environments will not be available for use during this time.

Users of NLAD’s National Verifier workflow will not be able to enroll, transfer, or update subscriber information in NLAD’s pre-production and production environments. NLAD UI and API users can continue to access reports and perform de-enrollments during this time.

11/14/2018 – Register for the RHC Program Winter Training Series!

Over the next few months, the RHC Program will host a series of webinars in preparation for FY2019. These comprehensive webinars will cover the application process from start to finish and include eligibility, request for services, and funding request best practices. Whether you are a new applicant or just need a refresher on the forms, these webinars are the best way to prepare for the upcoming funding year!

November 29 2:00 p.m. ET – RHC Program Eligibility Best Practices Webinar – Register here!

December 12 2:00 p.m. ET – RHC Program Request for Services Best Practices Webinar – Register here!

January 16 2:00 p.m. ET -- RHC Program Funding Request Best Practices Webinar – Register here!

After the discussion of the agenda items, RHC Program staff will accept questions from the audience. Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance using the webinar registration form.

Can't attend the live webinars? All webinar recordings will be made available on our website in the Online Learning Library.

11/14/2018 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: November 18-19

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable from Sunday, November 18 at 7:00 p.m ET through Monday, November 19 at 1:00 a.m. ET for monthly system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC. 

We apologize for any inconvenience.

11/9/2018 – News Brief Issued

11/9/2018 – My Portal Outage Due to System Maintenance Thursday, November 29

11/9/2018 – Scheduled System Maintenance Wednesday, November 14

11/9/2018 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: November 9-10

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will be unavailable from Friday, November 9 at 8:00 p.m ET through Saturday, November 10 at 2:00 a.m. ET for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC. We apologize for any inconvenience.

11/2/2018 – News Brief Issued

11/1/2018 – Newsletter for November 2018

No Additional Filing Window Periods for FY2018

Due to demand for RHC Program funds, there will not be a second filing window period for FY2018. The RHC Program will not accept additional funding requests (FCC Forms 462 or 466) for FY2018. All qualifying single year funding requests with no upfront costs will be fully funded for FY2018 with no proration. Please keep in mind that FY2018 funding requests are still in review and commitment decisions have not yet been released. RHC will communicate any updates via the email addresses the applicant has submitted in My Portal.

My Portal continues to accept Telecom Program FCC Form 467 (Connection Certification Form) and Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) Program FCC Form 463 (Invoice and Request for Disbursement Form) for applicants approved for funding in FY2017. 

HCF Program Invoicing Deadline Approaching

Please keep in mind that 11:59 p.m. ET December 31, 2018 is the last day to submit the FCC Form 463 to USAC if you had a funding commitment end date of June 30, 2018.

Don't know when your HCF Program invoicing deadline is? Use the look-up tool on our website! Download the Invoicing Deadline Spreadsheet.

Register for the Invoicing Best Practices Webinar on November 15! This webinar will cover how to submit the FCC Form 463 for healthcare providers (HCPs) and service providers. It contains helpful tips, best practices, what to expect from the USAC review process, and more!

Watch our step-by-step invoicing guide video series. These videos go over the submission process of the FCC Form 463, and we highly recommend viewing them if you are submitting your FCC Form 463 for the first time or just simply need a refresher in anticipation of an upcoming deadline: Individual HCPs, Consortia

Winter Training Series Dates Announced!

?We highly recommend attending our upcoming online training series, specifically designed to prepare applicants for the FY2019 filing window. These trainings are filled with resources, useful information, best practices, what to expect from the USAC review process and more! Attending these trainings is the best way to prepare for the FY2019 filing window.

• Eligibility Webinar: Thursday November 29, 2018 at 2 p.m. ET. Ready to apply to the RHC Program? Join our Eligibility Best Practices webinar to learn how to submit the first form in the application process, the FCC Form 460 or 465. Register here.
• Request for Services Webinar: Wednesday December 12, 2018 at 2 p.m. ET. Get ready for the start of the FY2019 filing window period by joining our Request for Services Best Practices webinar. We will focus on the FCC Forms 461 and 465 process and participants will be able to ask questions: Register here.   

RHC Program Funding Cap Order

On June 25, 2018, the FCC issued an Order that adopted rules to: (1) increase the annual RHC Program funding cap to $571 million and apply it to FY2017; (2) annually adjust the RHC Program funding cap for inflation, beginning with FY2018; and (3) establish a process to carry-forward unused funds from past funding years for use in future funding years. The rules became effective upon publication of the Order in the Federal Register on June 29, 2018.

Watch the 2018 RHC Program Funding Cap Order Information Webinar and download the FAQ Sheet.

What this means for FY2017: Due to the increase in the RHC Program funding cap for FY2017, all previously approved FY2017 funding requests will receive 100% of their approved funding amount. The proration that was previously applied to FY2017 funding commitments has been removed, and revised Funding Commitment Letters (FCLs) have been issued via email. If you have not received your revised FY2017 FCL or have questions about it, please contact RHC-Assist@usac.org.

Please log in to My Portal and make sure you are up to date with your FY2017 invoices. If you have questions about the invoicing process, please look at our program invoicing pages for additional information: HCF Invoicing Page and Telecom Invoicing Page.

What this means for FY2018: As noted in the FCC’s 2018 RHC Program Funding Cap Order, the RHC Program funding cap for FY2018 will be $581 million, adjusted for inflation. As a reminder, the FY2018 filing window closed on Friday, June 29, 2018. Applicants are currently unable to submit funding requests for FY2018.

Revised FY2017 HCP Support Schedules (HSS) Distributed

HCPs and service providers in the Telecom Program were emailed revised FY2017 HCP Support Schedules, which now reflect the 100% support amount (no proration).

Access Your Revised FY2017 FCL in My Portal

The Revised FY2017 Funding Commitment Letters (FCLs) you received via email are now also available in My Portal. Download the How to Find Your FCL in My Portal Tip Sheet for more information on accessing your FCL.

Important Reminders for FY2018

Watch RHC 101

On September 26, the RHC Program Team hosted RHC 101: An Introduction to the RHC Program webinar. This webinar covered the basics of the program including eligibility requirements and how to get started. Were you unable to make it? The recording and slides are posted on our website here.

What to Do if You Receive an Information Request

Applicants must upload all required documentation with the submission of their FCC Forms 462 or 466. FCC Forms submitted with incomplete or missing documentation will not be reviewed, and RHC reviewers will reach out to all account holders (the primary and all secondary and tertiary account holders associated with that HCP) with a request for additional information (“Information Request”). Information Requests are sent to collect any missing documentation, address deficiencies, or to ask clarifying questions about the FCC Form. If you receive an Information Request, you must respond to it within 14 calendar days. Once you respond, the RHC reviewers will work with you, to the extent they can, to ensure that they have all the necessary documentation to complete their review. Failure to respond within the 14 calendar day timeframe will result in an automatic denial, so be sure to meet that deadline! 

LOA/TPAs Must Be Up to Date

In order to be considered eligible for funding in FY2018, Letters of Agency (LOA) and Third Party Authorizations (TPA) must be up to date through a minimum of FY2018. Be especially mindful if you are an HCP using a consultant, a consortium leader, or a consultant filing on behalf of a consortium leader. Before submitting a form, please check to ensure your authorization documents are up to date.

FCC Forms 462 and 466 submitted with expired LOAs or TPAs will result in applicants receiving Information Requests.

• Download a Sample TPA or Sample LOA

11/1/2018 – Register for the HCF Program Invoicing Webinar November 15!

10/29/2018 – Lifeline Program Newsletter - October 2018

The October 2018 issue of Lifeline Program News is now available. Sign up to receive the newsletter by email in the Subscription Center.

October headlines:

• Only Enter Test Data in NLAD Pre-Production Environment
• Documentation Reminder for TPIV Dispute Resolution Error Code T18  
• FCC and USAC Announce National Verifier Full Launch Date for Initial Launch States
  
• National Verifier Live in Five Additional States and One Territory 
• Keep Companies Near Me Tool Up-to-Date 
• Minimum Service Standards Increase December 1 
• Webinar on December 12: FCC Form 555 

10/29/2018 – Scheduled System Maintenance Tuesday, October 30

10/26/2018 – News Brief Issued

10/26/2018 – NLAD, LCS and National Verifier Service Fully Restored

Service to the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) and the Lifeline Claims System (LCS) has been fully restored. Access to all features and functionalities, including reports is working as usual.

Users should no longer experience issues performing eligibility verifications in the National Verifier service provider portal.

10/25/2018 – 2018 Fall Webinars - Registration is Now Open

Join USAC for our live training webinarsthis fall. Our upcoming webinars will provide guidance on basic E-rate Productivity Center(EPC) navigation for new applicants, how to update an applicant profile, and how all program participants can prepare for the upcoming application filing window.   

October Webinar: EPC 101 for Applicants – October 25, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. EDT  
This webinar is designed to help new applicants become familiar with EPC. Click here to register.  

November Webinar: Updating Applicant Profiles - November 20, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. ET    
This webinar is designed to help applicants update their EPC profiles in preparation for the Funding Year (FY) 2019 application filing window. Click here to register.        

December Webinar: Preparing for FY2019 - December 12, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. ET    
This webinar is designed to help applicants and service providers prepare for the FY2019 application filing window. Click here to register.

10/25/2018 – Scheduled System Maintenance Friday, October 26

10/24/2018 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) *TRAINING SITE* Outage Due to System Maintenance: October 25

10/19/2018 – News Brief Issued

10/18/2018 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - October 19-20

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 8:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, October 19 through 2:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday, October 20 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to file invoices and use some of the search tools. The BEAR training site will also be unavailable. NOTE: The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will not be affected by this outage. We apologize for any inconvenience.

10/18/2018 – My Portal Outage Due to System Maintenance Monday, October 22

10/17/2018 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: October 21-22

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable from Sunday, October 21 at 7:00 p.m EDT through Monday, October 22 at 1:00 a.m. EDT for monthly system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC. 

We apologize for any inconvenience.

10/17/2018 – Scheduled System Maintenance Friday, October 19

10/12/2018 – News Brief Issued

10/12/2018 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) *TRAINING SITE* Outage Due to System Maintenance: October 15

10/11/2018 – 2018 E-rate Program Training Begins Next Week

USAC’s annual fall training starts on Monday, October 15, 2018 at USAC’s office located at 700 12th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005. For those of you joining us at USAC next week, here are a few tips and reminders to help you prepare for the training.

Registration: Please bring your registration confirmation with you along with a photo ID. We are at full capacity and will not be able to accommodate walk-in registrations. The name on the registration must match the name of the person who attends the training.

There is a three-step check-in process in the building lobby:

1. Go to the security desk in the lobby to receive your security pass.
2. After you receive your security pass, go to USAC’s registration desk in the lobby to check in and receive your name badge and training agenda.
3. Find a USAC representative by the elevators to guide you to the training event.

NOTE: If you are attending both days of training, you will need to request a security pass and check in at the beginning of each day.

Download the Training Materials: Training materials are available on our website. We will be going paperless this year, and will not have printouts. Please plan accordingly.

Food: Attendees should make their own arrangements for meals. USAC will provide recommendations for nearby breakfast and lunch options within walking distance.

We look forward to seeing you next week. For information on other fall training events, please reference our 2018 Applicant & Service Provider Trainings page.

10/11/2018 – FCC and USAC Announce Second National Verifier Launch

Today, the FCC and USAC announced the launch of the National Verifier in five additional states and one territory beginning Monday, October 15:

• Guam
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• New Hampshire
• North Dakota
• South Dakota

At that time, service providers in the states and territory can begin using the National Verifier to determine subscriber eligibility. During the soft launch period, service providers can continue using their legacy eligibility checking procedures if they choose.

About the National Verifier

The National Verifier shifts the responsibility for determining a consumer's Lifeline eligibility from phone and internet service providers to the program's administrator, the Universal Service Administrative Company. The National Verifier will establish whether a consumer is eligible by electronically querying state and federal data sources, and if necessary, manually reviewing supporting documents. An overview of the National Verifier can be found on USAC's website.

Service providers who do business in any of the states or territory listed in this bulletin who did not receive an email about National Verifier training schedule for Launch 2 should email LifelineProgram@usac.org to be added to the National Verifier Launch 2 training list (this is different from the initial launch states training list).

10/10/2018 – October Webinar - Registration is Now Open

Join USAC for the monthly E-rate Program webinar. In October, we will discuss the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC).

This webinar is designed to help new applicants become familiar with the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC). EPC is the account and application management portal for the E-rate Program. Program participants use this tool to manage program processes, receive notifications and to contact customer service. In this webinar, you will learn about basic navigation in EPC, including logging in for the first time.

10/8/2018 – Connect America Fund Map Now Available

10/5/2018 – News Brief Issued

10/4/2018 – Newsletter for October 2018

Revised FY2017 HCP Support Schedules (HSS) Distributed

HCPs and service providers in the Telecom Program were emailed revised FY2017 HCP Support Schedules, which now reflect the 100% support amount (no proration).

Access Your Revised FY2017 FCL in My Portal

The Revised FY2017 Funding Commitment Letters (FCLs) you received via email are now also available in My Portal. Download the How to Find Your FCL in My Portal Tip Sheet for more information on accessing your FCL

RHC Program Funding Cap Order

On June 25, 2018, the FCC issued an Order that adopted rules to: (1) increase the annual RHC Program funding cap to $571 million and apply it to FY2017; (2) annually adjust the RHC Program funding cap for inflation, beginning with FY2018; and (3) establish a process to carry-forward unused funds from past funding years for use in future funding years. The rules became effective upon publication of the Order in the Federal Register on June 29, 2018.

Watch the 2018 RHC Program Funding Cap Order Information Webinar and download the FAQ Sheet.

What this means for FY2017: Due to the increase in the RHC Program funding cap for FY2017, all previously approved FY2017 funding requests will receive 100% of their approved funding amount. The proration that was previously applied to FY2017 funding commitments has been removed, and revised Funding Commitment Letters (FCLs) have been issued via email. If you have not received your revised FY2017 FCL or have questions about it, please contact RHC-Assist@usac.org.

Please log in to My Portal and make sure you are up to date with your FY2017 invoices. If you have questions about the invoicing process, please look at our program invoicing pages for additional information: HCF Invoicing Page and Telecom Invoicing Page.

What this means for FY2018: As noted in the FCC’s 2018 RHC Program Funding Cap Order, the RHC Program funding cap for FY2018 will be $581 million, adjusted for inflation. As a reminder, the FY2018 filing window closed on Friday, June 29, 2018. Applicants are currently unable to submit funding requests for FY2018.

Important Reminders for FY2018

Upcoming Invoicing Training

The HCF Program invoicing deadline for FY2017 commitments ending on June 30, 2018 is December 31, 2018. The RHC Program Team will be hosting a webinar covering the invoicing process and best practices on November 15, 2018. Register today!

Watch RHC 101

On September 26, the RHC Program Team hosted RHC 101: An Introduction to the RHC Program webinar. This webinar covered the basics of the program including eligibility requirements and how to get started. Were you unable to make it? The recording and slides are posted on our website here.

Appeal Decisions

USAC is no longer sending appeal decisions via postal mail. If you have appealed a decision made by USAC, you will receive your appeal decision via email. Applicants seeking FCC review of a decision issued by USAC must follow the FCC’s regular appeal procedures.  

New Extended RHC Help Desk Hours!

As of August 1^st, the RHC Help Desk hours were extended from 8:00 a.m. ET – 5:00 p.m. ET to 8:00 a.m. ET – 8:00 p.m. ET. We hope these longer operational hours will help meet the needs of our stakeholders on both coasts, and, in an effort to provide more one-on-one guidance, we are increasing the number of dedicated staff responding to phone calls and emails. Our goal with this expansion is to deliver thorough, helpful answers and guidance to you, faster.

What to Do if You Receive an Information Request

Applicants must upload all required documentation with the submission of their FCC Forms 462 or 466. FCC Forms submitted with incomplete or missing documentation will not be reviewed, and RHC reviewers will reach out to all account holders (the primary and all secondary and tertiary account holders associated with that HCP) with a request for additional information (“Information Request”). Information Requests are sent to collect any missing documentation, address deficiencies, or to ask clarifying questions about the FCC Form. If you receive an Information Request, you must respond to it within 14 calendar days. Once you respond, the RHC reviewers will work with you, to the extent they can, to ensure that they have all the necessary documentation to complete their review. Failure to respond within the 14 calendar day timeframe will result in an automatic denial, so be sure to meet that deadline! 

LOA/TPAs Must Be Up to Date

In order to be considered eligible for funding in FY2018, Letters of Agency (LOA) and Third Party Authorizations (TPA) must be up to date through a minimum of FY2018. Be especially mindful if you are an HCP using a consultant, a consortium leader, or a consultant filing on behalf of a consortium leader. Before submitting a form, please check to ensure your authorization documents are up to date.

FCC Forms 462 and 466 submitted with expired LOAs or TPAs will result in applicants receiving Information Requests.

• Download a Sample TPA or Sample LOA

10/2/2018 – 4Q2018 498/499 Spotlight Newsletter

10/1/2018 – New Invoice Deadline Extension Tool Now Available in EPC

In last week's SL News Brief, we noted that we were working on a new invoice deadline extension tool in the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC).

The new EPC invoice extension deadline tool is now available. Applicants, consultants, and service providers will be able to request invoice deadline extensions for their Funding Request Numbers (FRNs) for Funding Year (FY) 2016 and forward by using the new tool.

As a reminder, program participants will use the existing legacy tool (the tool that applicants and service providers can access through the online BEAR Form) to request invoice deadline extensions for FRNs from FY2015 and previous funding years.

Visit the Invoice Deadline Extensions page for more information.

9/28/2018 – News Brief Issued

9/27/2018 – Lifeline Program Newsletter - September 2018

The September 2018 issue of Lifeline Program News is now available. Sign up to receive the newsletter by email in the Subscription Center.

September headlines:

• Check NLAD Prior to Snapshot Date
• Universal Forms Submission Guidance
• National Verifier Update
• Minimum Service Standards Increase
• Did You Know? NLAD Changes
• October Lifeline Program Webinar

9/25/2018 – My Portal Outage Due to System Maintenance Friday, September 28

9/25/2018 – Invoice Deadline Extension Tool Update

In last week's SL News Brief, we noted that we were working on a new invoice deadline extension tool in the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC). The new EPC tool will be used to request invoice deadline extensions for Funding Request Numbers (FRNs) for funding years after Funding Year (FY) 2015. Over the weekend, we removed the legacy tool option for submitting extension requests for post-FY2015 FRNs.

The existing legacy tool (the tool accessed through the online BEAR Form) can be used to request invoice deadline extensions for FRNs from FY2015 and previous funding years. 

The new EPC tool will be available October 1.You can submit an invoice deadline extension request by opening a customer service case in EPC this week, but we suggest that you wait for the new EPC tool. (We will not be able to process those requests until the new EPC tool becomes available.)

9/21/2018 – News Brief Issued

9/19/2018 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: September 23-24

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable from Sunday, September 23 at 7:00 p.m EDT through Monday, September 24 at 1:00 a.m. EDT for monthly system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC. 

We apologize for any inconvenience.

8/29/2018 – Lifeline Program Newsletter - August 2018

The August 2018 issue of Lifeline Program News is now available. Sign up to receive the newsletter by email in the Subscription Center. 

August Headlines:

• USAC-Elected Recertification Elections Close August 31
• Minimum Service Standards Increase December 1
• National Verifier: August Announcements
• Did You Know? New Address Resolution Code Added in NLAD
• Did You Know? Upcoming Changes to NLAD Reports
• Webinar on September 12: Lifeline 101