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5/24/2019 – News Brief Issued

5/23/2019 – Special Edition News Brief - Service Provider Training Announcement

5/23/2019 – Service Provider Training - Registration Now Open

Registration is now open for 2019 Service Provider Training. The training will take place at USAC in Washington, DC the week of August 5th. You can register here.

NOTE: These training sessions are targeted for service providers. Fall applicant training sessions, which contain material specifically for applicants, will be announced at a later time.

5/20/2019 – FCC Releases Order 19-45

5/20/2019 – Reminder: Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance

Reminder: NLAD Pre-Production Scheduled System Maintenance, May 21

The NLAD pre-production environment will be unavailable due to scheduled system maintenance starting on Tuesday, May 21 from 10 a.m. until noon ET. 

The National Verifier pre-production and production environments, as well as the NLAD production environment, will be available for use during this time.

Reminder: National Verifier Scheduled System Maintenance, May 24

The National Verifier will be unavailable due to scheduled system maintenance starting on Friday, May 24 from 8 p.m. until midnight ET. The National Verifier pre-production and production environments will not be available for use during this time.

The NLAD legacy workflow will no longer be impacted; however, NLAD users will not be able to perform verify, enroll, or transfer transactions using NLAD’s National Verifier mode.

5/17/2019 – E-File Unavailable due to USAC System Maintenance

5/17/2019 – News Brief Issued

5/17/2019 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance: May 17-18

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 9:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 17 through 1:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday, May 18 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.

5/17/2019 – E-File Outage Due to System Maintenance: May 17-18

USAC's E-File system will be unavailable for all users from 6:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 17 through 1:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday, May 18 for system maintenance. During this time the E-file login page will be unavailable and users will be unable to file, certify, and search for FCC Forms 498 or 499. All online FCC forms for contributors, service providers, and eligible telecommunications carriers will not be accessible. We apologize for any inconvenience.

5/15/2019 – Reminder: Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance

Reminder: Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance, May 17

The National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD), National Verifier, and Lifeline Claims System (LCS) will be unavailable due to the May monthly maintenance starting Friday, May 17 from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. ET.

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

Reminder: Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance, May 24

NLAD and the National Verifier will be unavailable due to scheduled system maintenance starting on Friday, May 24 from 8 p.m. until midnight ET. 

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

NLAD Pre-Production Scheduled System Maintenance, May 21

The NLAD pre-production environment will be unavailable due to scheduled system maintenance starting on Tuesday, May 21 from 10 a.m. until noon ET. 
 
The National Verifier pre-production and production environments as well as the NLAD production environment will be available for use during this time.

5/15/2019 – RHC Newsletter for May 2019

Upcoming Deadline!

FY2019 Filing Window Closes May 31, 2019!
The initial filing window period for FY2019 closes in 29 days! This means that you must submit your funding requests (FCC Forms 462 or 466) before 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2019 to be considered for RHC Program support. Any funding requests submitted after this time will not be considered. We highly encourage you to submit your funding requests as soon as possible.

Prepare to submit your FY2019 Funding Request with these resources:

• January 2019 Funding Request Best Practices Webinar and slides
• Funding Request Summary
• FY2019 Recommended Submission Dates
• Information for FY2018 and FY2019 Applicants
• Urban and Rural Rate Guide

Latest News

Coming Soon! RHC Website Updates
Over the next few months, RHC will be refreshing the content on the RHC public website, usac.org/rhc. Our goal is to make information easier to find and understand for all applicants, and changes will include consolidating information and simplifying the content. Don’t worry! We will share more information about any changes before they happen.


FY2019 Information

FY2018 FCC Form 461 Rollover for FY2019 for HCF Program Applicants
This year’s FCC Form 461 rollover functionality is a courtesy extended to HCF Program applicants who completed the Request for Services (FCC Form 461) process in FY2018 and would like to use their approved FY2018 FCC Form 461 for 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 for FY2018.
• The FY2018 FCC Form 461 and/or competitive bidding process must have complied with the FCC’s competitive bidding rules.

Applicants requesting the FY2018 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 for 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 Information

RHC began issuing decisions on FY2018 funding requests in November of 2018, 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.


Important Reminders

FCC Form 460 Best Practice
During the submission of an FCC Form 460 (HCF Eligibility and Registration Form), we recommend that applicants upload any supporting documentation necessary to validate form data to the “Supporting Documentation” section. This includes any documentation that is relevant to the required fields of the FCC Form 460. Doing so creates additional visibility into the HCP and increases the chance of a faster review. A few examples include:

• Hospital licenses, with the address clearly posted, to verify a non-profit hospital
• A recent bill or lease, with the address clearly posted, to verify the HCP address provided on the FCC Form 460
• Public tax documents to verify the Non-Profit Tax ID (EIN)
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) accreditation to verify a community health center

Please keep in mind that the FCC Form 460 review can take up to 30 days. You can submit your FCC Form 460 at any time during the funding year.

Filing an Appeal
Any party that wishes to appeal a USAC decision must file an appeal with USAC within 60 days of the date when USAC issued the decision. All appeals must be sent to RHC-Appeals@usac.org.  The following information must be included in the appeal:

• Applicant or service provider who is filing the appeal (i.e. HCP number, service provider’s 498 ID (SPIN))
• Contact information of the person who can discuss the appeal with USAC in detail  (include name, address, telephone number, and email address)
• Documentation of USAC's decision (e.g., copy of USAC's decision letter being appealed)
• Supporting documentation such as forms and previous correspondence with USAC
• A precise explanation of the relief sought through the appeal

USAC may reach out for additional information while reviewing your appeal, but failure to provide all of the information above within the 60 days may result in denial of your appeal. Parties seeking a waiver of FCC rules (e.g., waiver of deadlines) should file an appeal directly with the Commission because USAC cannot waive FCC rules.  For more information on filing appeals with USAC or the FCC, please visit the appeals page of the USAC website.

Consortia Resources
HCF Program applicants who may be interested in forming a consortia can download three new resources to help them get started:

• Consortia Getting Started Tip Sheet
• Forming a Consortium Tip Sheet
• FCC Form 461 and 462 Tip Sheet for Consortia

Account Holder Guidance
USAC recommends having at least one secondary account holder per HCP. We’ve created guides for primary account holders with instructions for adding additional account holders in My Portal:

• Telecom Account Holder Guide 
• Healthcare Connect Fund Account Holder Guide

What to do if You Receive an Information Request
USAC cannot complete their review of FCC Forms submitted with incomplete or missing documentation, 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. Failure to respond within the 14 calendar day timeframe will result in a denial of funding, so be sure to meet that deadline.

LOA/TPAs Must be Up to Date
In order to be considered eligible for funding in FY2019, Letters of Agency (LOA) and Third Party Authorizations (TPA) must be up to date through FY2019, 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

5/14/2019 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: May 17-18

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable from Friday, May 17 at 8:00 p.m EDT through Saturday, May 18 at 10:00 a.m. EDT for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC. We apologize for any inconvenience.

5/13/2019 – USAC Call Centers Capacity Restored

5/13/2019 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) *TRAINING SITE* Outage Due to System Maintenance: May 17

5/10/2019 – News Brief Issued

5/10/2019 – USAC Announce National Verifier Full (Hard) Launch for March 2019 Launch

5/7/2019 – February 2019 Launch Fully Launches in the National Verifier

Today, Tuesday, May 7, the Lifeline National Eligibility Verifier (National Verifier) fully launched in the following localities: 

• Alaska
• American Samoa
• District of Columbia
• Delaware
• Maine
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Rhode Island
• U.S. Virgin Islands

For more information specific to the February 2019 launch, visit USAC’s website.

5/6/2019 – CAF Phase II Auction Page Now Available

5/3/2019 – News Brief Issued

5/1/2019 – Lifeline Program Newsletter - April 2019

FCC and USAC Announce National Verifier Full (Hard) Launch Date for the February 2019 Launch States and Territories

The National Verifier will fully launch in the following localities on Tuesday, May 7, 2019.

• Alaska
• American Samoa
• District of Columbia
• Delaware
• Maine
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Rhode Island
• U.S. Virgin Islands

As of that date, service providers in the February 2019 launch must use the National Verifier to determine the eligibility of all Lifeline applicants before enrolling them in the program. Service providers will be only able to enroll applicants in the National Lifeline Accountability Database (NLAD) if they have an active and approved eligibility decision from the National Verifier.

Consumers in these localities who wish to apply for Lifeline through the National Verifier will be able to use the consumer portal at CheckLifeline.org/lifeline or submit a paper application by mail directly to the Lifeline Support Center starting Tuesday, May 7, 2019.

Service providers in localities that are part of this launch will receive additional communications from USAC with specific information regarding the full (hard) launch of the National Verifier.

If you are a service provider in one of the states, territories, or district that are part of this launch and have not received information about the full (hard) launch, email us at LifelineProgram@usac.org.

National Verifier April 2019 Enhancements are live in the Production Environment

On Monday, April 15, USAC released new enhancements to the National Verifier portal for consumers in CO, MS, MT, NM, UT, and WY. These enhancements allow consumers in these states, which were soft launched in June 2018 (Launch 1), the ability to start using the recertification portal to complete their annual recertification.
 
Recertification is an annual requirement for Lifeline subscribers and is separate from reverification (one-time National Verifier process). This process is conducted to ensure that active Lifeline subscribers are still eligible for the Lifeline benefit.

Service Provider Portal 

Service providers will be prevented from submitting an application for a consumer who has yet to complete recertification. The National Verifier portal will instead provide the options available for a subscriber to complete recertification. These options include recertifying online via the National Verifier consumer portal, by phone, or by mailing in a recertification form to the Lifeline Support Center. Once recertification is complete for the subscriber the regular features on the portal will be available.

Consumer Portal

If a subscriber logs into the National Verifier consumer portal while in a 60-day self-certification window, the subscriber will be automatically directed to complete and submit their recertification.

5/1/2019 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: May 5-6

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable from Sunday, May 5 at 7:00 p.m EDT through Monday, May 6 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.

5/1/2019 – Deadline Approaching! FY2019 Filing Window Closes on May 31!

The initial filing window period for FY2019 closes in 29 days! This means that you must submit your funding requests (FCC Forms 462 or 466) before 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2019 to be considered for RHC Program support. Any funding requests submitted after this time will not be considered. We highly encourage you to submit your funding requests as soon as possible. Prepare to submit your

FY2019 Funding Request with these resources:

4/30/2019 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - May 1

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 9:00-11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 1 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.

4/27/2019 – Special Edition News Brief - FY2019 Wave 1 Issued

4/26/2019 – News Brief Issued

4/24/2019 – Reminder: Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance, April 26

4/24/2019 – Webinar: FCC Form 481 Updates on May 7

4/23/2019 – USAC Releases CAF Map Version 2.0

USAC has released version 2.0 of the CAF Map, an interactive online map that shows the impact of the Connect America Fund (CAF) program on broadband expansion across rural America.    

First launched in late 2018, the Connect America Fund Broadband Map – or CAF Map – displays the locations where carriers that receive CAF support have built out mass-market, high-speed Internet service. Version 2.0 of the map contains updated information reflecting broadband deployment completed in 2018. It also contains data from one additional fund – Rural Broadband Experiments (RBE) – bringing the total number of funds in the map to five.    

The CAF Map displays the geographic areas eligible for CAF support, as well as the specific fixed locations where carriers participating in the program have reported broadband availability. Among other details, the data in the map includes address, latitude and longitude coordinates, carrier name, deployment year and maximum speeds available.    

The information in the map comes from the carriers, which file and certify CAF-funded broadband deployment data annually with USAC’s High Cost Universal Broadband (HUBB) portal. The grace period for the most recent HUBB filing window closed on March 6, 2019. The CAF Map pulls its data directly from the HUBB.      

A subset of this data has been subject to USAC verification review. USAC independently verifies deployment to a sample of locations reported to the HUBB each year to monitor carrier compliance with CAF build-out obligations.      

Version 2.0 of the map reflects broadband deployment as of Dec. 31, 2018 - as certified in the HUBB as of March 6, 2019 - by carriers participating in the following five Connect America Fund programs:    

• Connect America Fund Phase II (CAF Phase II)    
• Alternative Connect America Cost Model (A-CAM)          
• Connect America Fund-Broadband Loop Support (CAF-BLS)    
• Alaska Plan      
• Rural Broadband Experiments (RBE)          

USAC will update the CAF Map periodically with additional broadband deployment data filed by carriers participating in these five CAF funds, and as more CAF funds begin reporting in the HUBB. Map data is also subject to change as carriers upgrade network speeds and correct inaccuracies. In addition, data in the map may change as USAC independently verifies deployment to a sample of locations certified by carriers in the HUBB each year.

4/22/2019 – Second Quarter Spotlight Newsletter is now available

Click here to read the 2Q2019 498/499 Spotlight.

4/19/2019 – News Brief Issued

4/12/2019 – News Brief Issued

4/12/2019 – Reminder: Scheduled National Verifier Maintenance, April 15

4/12/2019 – SL News Brief

Last week, USAC transitioned to a new email platform and email recipients of the SL News Brief may have noticed that links in editions issued before April 5, 2019 no longer work. These editions are still accessible with active links in the SL News Brief archive.

How to search the archive

Each newsletter published for the past two years is saved in the archive by topic(s) and by the date the newsletter was published. To view the newsletter in the archive,

1. Go to the SL News Brief archive.
2. Select the tab for Topic or Date.
3. Click the links provided to open a copy of the SL News Brief. The links are labeled by the date the newsletter was published.

If you are searching for a news brief that is not available in the archive, call our Client Service Bureau at (888) 203-8100 or submit a customer service case in the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC). To create a customer service case:

1. Log in to EPC.
2. Select the Contact Us link from the upper right menu on your landing page.

4/5/2019 – News Brief Issued

4/5/2019 – Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance

4/5/2019 – USAC Announces National Verifier Full (Hard) Launch for February 2019 Launch

Today, the FCC and USAC announced that the Lifeline National Verifier will fully launch in the following localities on Tuesday, May 7, 2019:

• Alaska
• American Samoa
• District of Columbia
• Delaware
• Maine
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Rhode Island
• U.S. Virgin Islands 

At that time, service providers in the February 2019 launch must check all Lifeline applicants’ eligibility through the National Verifier.

At the full (hard) launch, consumers who wish to apply for Lifeline directly through the National Verifier can use the consumer portal or submit a paper application directly to the Lifeline Support Center. USAC will share more information with service providers in the February 2019 Launch shortly. 

4/4/2019 – RHC Newsletter for April 2019

FY2019 Funding Cap is $593.7M
On Friday, March 8, 2019, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the FY2019 funding cap for the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program is $593,782,000. This new cap represents a 2.2% inflation-adjusted increase in the $581,000,000 cap from FY2018. Read Public Notice DA 17-190 here.

My Portal Update Impacting Internet Explorer 10
Starting April 30, 2019, My Portal will no longer be supported in Internet Explorer 10 (IE10), and you will be unable to access My Portal with this browser. Please upgrade your browser to one of these supported browsers:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 11
• Microsoft Edge 14 and later
• Firefox 46 and later
• Chrome 51 and later
• Safari 10 and later

If you are having trouble upgrading your browser, please check with your company’s IT/Help Desk team or IT support group for assistance. Your company’s information security policies may require the upgrade to be performed by your company’s IT/Help Desk team.

Coming Soon! RHC Website Updates
Over the next few months, RHC will be refreshing the content on our public website, usac.org/rhc. Our goal is to make information easier to find and understand for all of our applicants, and changes will include consolidating information and simplifying the content. Don’t worry! We will share more information about any changes before they happen.

FY2019 Information

FY2019Filing Window Closes May 31, 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) before 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2019 for consideration. Any funding requests submitted after this time will not be considered. We highly encourage you to submit your funding requests as soon as possible.

Prepare to submit your FY2019 Funding Request with these resources:

• January 2019 Funding Request Best Practices Webinar and slides
• Funding Request Summary
• FY2019 Recommended Submission Dates
• Information for FY2018 and FY2019 Applicants
• Urban and Rural Rate Guide

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!

Prepare to submit your forms with these resources:

• Webinar Recording and Slides
• Request for Services Summary
• Search Posted Service Requests: HCF Program, Telecom Program
• Request for Proposal (RFP) Checklist (HCF Program Only)
• Network Plan Checklist (HCF Program Only)

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 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. 

Important Reminders

Filing an Appeal
Any party that wishes to appeal a USAC decision must file an appeal with USAC within 60 days of the date when USAC issued the decision. All appeals must be sent to RHC-Appeals@usac.org.  The following information must be included in the appeal:

• Applicant or service provider who is filing the appeal (i.e. HCP number, service provider’s 498 ID (SPIN))
• Contact information of the person who can discuss the appeal with USAC in detail  (include name, address, telephone number, and email address)
• Documentation of USAC's decision (e.g., copy of USAC's decision letter being appealed)
• Supporting documentation such as forms and previous correspondence with USAC
• A precise explanation of the relief sought through the appeal

USAC may reach out for additional information while reviewing your appeal, but failure to provide all of the information above within the 60 days may result in denial of your appeal. For more information on filing appeals with USAC or the FCC, please visit the appeals page of the USAC website.

Consortia Resources
HCF Program applicants who may be interested in forming a consortia can download three new resources to help them get started:

• Consortia Getting Started Tip Sheet
• Forming a Consortium Tip Sheet
• FCC Form 461 and 462 Tip Sheet for Consortia

Account Holder Guidance
USAC recommends having at least one secondary account holder per HCP. We’ve created guides for primary account holders with instructions for adding additional account holders in My Portal:

• Telecom Account Holder Guide
• Healthcare Connect Fund Account Holder Guide

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 FY2019, Letters of Agency (LOA) and Third Party Authorizations (TPA) must be up to date through FY2019, 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

4/3/2019 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: April 7-8

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable from Sunday, April 7 at 7:00 p.m EDT through Monday, April 8 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.

4/2/2019 – Schools and Libraries FY2019 Demand Estimate

3/29/2019 – News Brief Issued

3/27/2019 – My Portal Outage Due to System Maintenance Wednesday, April 3

3/27/2019 – Reminder: Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance, March 29

3/26/2019 – CSB Call Center Phone Line Outage

The Client Service Bureau (CSB) cannot be reached by telephone at the moment. We are actively working on this issue and will provide an update when we get more information. You can still submit a customer service case in the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC), as CSB is working cases as they come in. To submit a customer service case in EPC, click the Contact Us link from the upper right menu on your landing page. We apologize for any inconvenience.

3/22/2019 – News Brief Issued

3/20/2019 – Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance, March 22 and 29

3/20/2019 – Responding to FRN Balance Verifications

Each year, USAC undergoes an audit – called an agreed-upon-procedures (AUP) engagement – to examine its operations. As part of this process, the firm performing the audit emails a number of balance verifications ("confirmations") to applicants and service providers to verify that the balances reported by USAC on specific Funding Request Numbers (FRNs) match the balances in the records of the applicants and service providers. Each confirmation features the balance reported by USAC on a specific FRN as of October 31, 2018. 

The confirmations are being sent from confirmations@pwc.com. Please check your email and respond promptly if you receive a confirmation.

Applicants and service providers should review their records and respond by either:

• Agreeing with the balance featured on the confirmation or
• If it is different, noting the balance as of October 31, 2018 on their records and explaining how they determined that balance.

3/20/2019 – Lifeline Program Newsletter - March 2019

The March 2019 issue of Lifeline Program News is now available. Sign up to receive the newsletter by email in the Subscription Center. 

March headlines:

• Coming Soon: Representative Accountability Database (RAD)
• National Verifier: March Launches
• National Verifier March 2019 Enhancements are live in the Production Environment
• Submitting Lifeline Reimbursement Claims in LCS Outside Administrative Window
• National Verifier Outreach Lists - Sign up for Future Launch Information
• Webinar on April 10: Overview of the Lifeline Claims System (LCS)
  

3/20/2019 – CSB Hours During the Last Week of the Filing Window

While we encourage applicants to complete and certify their FCC Form 471 early, we realize that last-minute questions can arise. We are publishing the extra hours the Client Service Bureau (CSB) will be open during the last week of the window to allow applicants to take advantage of the opportunity to get answers to those last-minute questions.

You can contact CSB at (888) 203-8100. CSB's regular hours are 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. In addition to those times, CSB will be open:

Generally, CSB has the highest call volumes during noon to 4:00 p.m. EDT. If an agent is not able to answer when you call, please open a customer service case in EPC and we will respond as quickly as possible. To open a customer service case in EPC, click the Contact Us link from the upper right menu on your landing page.

3/15/2019 – News Brief Issued

3/14/2019 – FCC Announces 2nd Quarter 2019 Contribution Factor Decrease to 18.8 Percent

3/11/2019 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: March 12

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) will be unavailable Tuesday morning, March 12 from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. EDT for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC. We apologize for any inconvenience.

3/11/2019 – FY2019 Funding Cap is $593.7M

On Friday, March 8, 2019, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the FY2019 funding cap for the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program is $593,782,000. This new cap represents a 2.2% inflation-adjusted increase in the $581,000,000 cap from FY2018. Read Public Notice DA 17-190 here. 

3/8/2019 – News Brief Issued

3/8/2019 – FCC and USAC Announce March 2019 National Verifier Launch

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. 

3/7/2019 – RHC Newsletter for March 2019

FY2019 Filing Window Open Now!

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) before 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2019 for consideration. Any funding requests submitted after this time will not be considered. We highly encourage you to submit your funding requests as soon as possible.

Prepare to submit your FY2019 Funding Request with these resources:

• January 2019 Funding Request Best Practices Webinar and slides
• Funding Request Summary
• FY2019 Recommended Submission Dates
• Information for FY2018 and FY2019 Applicants
• Urban and Rural Rate Guide

Submit Eligibility and FY2019 Request for Services Forms Now!

Applicants applying for funding for FY2019 who are going through the competitive bidding process can submit their FCC Forms 460 and 461 (HCF Program) and FCC Form 465 (Telecom Program) now! Prepare to submit your forms with these resources:

Eligibility

• Webinar Recording and Slides
• Eligibility Summary

Request for Services

• 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.

Request for Proposal (RFP) Review

When an RFP accompanies an FCC Form 461 submission, USAC will review the RFP to identify discrepancies and areas of potential non-compliance with competitive bidding requirements and provide applicants with recommendations on how to address areas of concern. The review conducted by USAC does not guarantee that the RFP is fully compliant. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure that its request for services and any accompanying documentation comply with all RHC Program rules.

Applicants may bypass this review by emailing RHC-Assist@usac.org at the time of FCC Form 461 submission, including the HCP and application number in the subject line and body of the email.

Update on FY2018

New! Consortia Resources

HCF Program applicants who may be interested in forming a consortia can download three new resources to help them get started:

• Consortia Getting Started Tip Sheet
• Forming a Consortium Tip Sheet
• FCC Form 461 and 462 Tip Sheet for Consortia

New! Account Holder Guidance

USAC recommends having at least one secondary account holder per HCP. We’ve created guides for primary account holders with instructions for adding additional account holders in My Portal:

• Telecom Account Holder Guide
• HCF Program Account Holder Guide

Watch RHC 102

On February 28, 2019, the RHC Program team held “RHC 102: Participating in the Rural Health Care Program,” a follow up to our beginner’s webinar “RHC 101.” This webinar was for primary account holders preparing to submit forms to meet the FY2019 filing window deadline of May 31 and covered best practices and available resources. Watch the webinar 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 FY2019, Letters of Agency (LOA) and Third Party Authorizations (TPA) must be up to date through FY2019, at a minimum. Be especially mindful if you are an HCP using a consultant, if you are a consortium project coordinator, or a consultant filing on behalf of a consortium. 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

3/7/2019 – Watch RHC 102: Participating in the RHC Program Webinar!

3/7/2019 – C2 Budget Tool Outage Due to System Maintenance - March 7

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program Category Two (C2) Budget Tool will be unavailable from 6:00-8:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 7 for system maintenance. We apologize for any inconvenience.

3/6/2019 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: March 10-11

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable from Sunday, March 10 at 7:00 p.m EST through Monday, March 11 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.

*Daylight saving time goes into effect during this period.

3/1/2019 – News Brief Issued

3/1/2019 – Reminder: Upcoming Scheduled Production Maintenance, March 4

2/28/2019 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: March 1

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable from 12:00 a.m.-4:00 a.m. ET on Friday, March 1 for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use EPC. We apologize for any inconvenience.

2/27/2019 – Online Service Provider Training Series Now Available

Today, we launched fifteen new training modules as part of our online E-rate training series. The series 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 training series for service providers is now available in our Online Learning Library. 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.

2/25/2019 – My Portal Outage Due to System Maintenance Friday, March 1

2/25/2019 – Lifeline Program Newsletter - February 2019

The February 2019 issue of Lifeline Program News is now available. Sign up to receive the newsletter by email in the Subscription Center. 

February headlines:

• National Verifier Live in Additional States, Territories, and the District of Columbia
• FCC and USAC Announce National Verifier Full (Hard) Launch Date for Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee
• 2019 Federal Poverty Guidelines Updated
• New Enhancements Coming to National Verifier Portal
• Submitting Lifeline Reimbursement Claims in LCS outside Administrative Window
• Lifeline Support Center Acceptable Material
• Reminder: Keep NLAD Up-To-Date
• Webinar on March 13: NLAD Refresher
  
  
  

2/25/2019 – Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance, March 4

2/22/2019 – Need a PIN? Please request it by COB Monday, February 25

Applicants who need a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to file an invoice are strongly encouraged to request their PIN before 8:00 p.m. EST on Monday, February 25. To file a request, complete a PIN request template and attach it to a customer service case in the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC). You can also find the template on the PIN guidance page.

If you have any questions, you can call the Client Service Bureau (CSB) at 888-203-8100. CSB is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST Monday through Friday. We will do our best to process any requests received after that time.

Remember that, if you have received an invoice deadline extension request, the deadline to file invoices for FY2017 recurring services is 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, February 26.

2/22/2019 – News Brief Issued

2/21/2019 – Reminder: NLAD Security Update, March 7

2/19/2019 – Reminder: Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance

2/15/2019 – News Brief Issued

2/15/2019 – Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance

2/14/2019 – Register Today: Feb. 19 Data Office Hour Webinar

Registration is now open for the upcoming E-rate office hour webinar on February 19, 2019.

Check the Webinars page for our current schedule. More events will be added soon.

2/13/2019 – Legacy System Outage Due to System Maintenance - February 13

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program legacy systems will be unavailable from 6:00-8:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 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.

2/8/2019 – News Brief Issued

2/7/2019 – RHC Newsletter for February 2019

2/7/2019 – Rescheduled: Upcoming System Maintenance

2/6/2019 – E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) Outage Due to System Maintenance: February 10-11

The E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable from Sunday, February 10 at 7:00 p.m ET through Monday, February 11 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.

2/5/2019 – FCC and USAC Announce Upcoming Launch Dates

The FCC and USAC announced upcoming launch dates for the Lifeline National Verifier in Public Notice DA-19.43.

Upcoming Launch Dates:

• February Soft Launch (February 6, 2019)
• March Full (Hard) Launch (March 5, 2019) for states soft launched on December 4, 2018
  
  

February Soft Launch

The Lifeline National Verifier will soft launch in the following states, territories, and the District of Columbia on Wednesday, February 6.

• Alaska
• American Samoa
• District of Columbia
• Delaware
• Maine
• Northern Mariana Islands
• Rhode Island
• U.S. Virgin Island
  

During the soft launch, service providers in the February Launch can begin using the National Verifier to determine subscriber eligibility through the service provider portal at www.CheckLifeline.org/SPportal or by sending paper forms to the Lifeline Support Center. Service providers can continue using their legacy eligibility checking procedures during this time.

2/5/2019 – 2019 Federal Poverty Guidelines Updated

2/5/2019 – Rescheduled: Advanced Eligible Services Webinar

Our upcoming E-rate Office Hour Webinar on Advanced Eligible Services is rescheduled for February 14, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. ET. The Webinars page will be edited soon to reflect the updated webinar schedule.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

February 5, 2019

February 14, 2019 (NEW DATE)

2/1/2019 – News Brief Issued

2/1/2019 – E-rate Office Hours - Register Today

Registration is now open for upcoming E-rate office hour webinars. Check the Webinars page for our current schedule. More events will be added soon.

Here is how the process will work:

February 5, 2019

February 6, 2019

2/1/2019 – FY2019 Filing Window Open Now!

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) before 11:59 p.m. ET May 31, 2019 for consideration. Any funding requests submitted after this time will not be considered. We highly encourage you to submit your funding requests as soon as possible.

Prepare to submit your FY2019 Funding Request with these resources:

=         January 2019 Funding Request Best Practices Webinar and slides

=         Funding Request Summary

=         FY2019 Recommended Submission Dates

=         Information for FY2018 and FY2019 Applicants

=         Urban and Rural Rate Guide

1/29/2019 – Canceled: Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance

1/28/2019 – Reminder: Upcoming Scheduled System Maintenance

1/28/2019 – Lifeline Program Newsletter - January 2019

The January 2019 issue of Lifeline Program News is now available. Sign up to receive the newsletter by email in the Subscription Center. 

January headlines:

• National Verifier Second Full Launch
• National Verifier Outreach Lists
• FCC Resumes Operations
• New Features Introduced to Companies Near Me Tool
• FCC Form 555 due January 31, 2019
• 2019 Federal Poverty Guidelines Published
• Common Audit Finding
• Webinar on February 13: Common Audit Findings
  

1/28/2019 – E-rate Office Hours

During the FY2019 application filing window, USAC will conduct a series of office hour webinars which will focus on specific E-rate topics covered in our online E-rate Program Training Series.

Here is how the process will work:

• We will post a list of the office hour webinars on the Webinars page on the USAC website soon. Each webinar will include the topic, the date and time, the recommended audience, the E-rate experience level (beginner, advanced, general) and the specific training module(s) that attendees should review in advance of the webinar. Note that we may hold more than one webinar on the same day.
• If you are interested in attending, register for the webinar and watch the training module(s).
• When the webinar starts, we will provide instructions on how to ask questions, go over a short summary of the module(s) you should have reviewed, and then open the floor for questions.

• Attendees will use the webinar's chat function to ask questions. We will identify questions of general interest that come in through the chat function and read and respond to them verbally, and also answer more specific questions individually using the chat function. As with our regular webinars, we will give preference to questions about the topic under discussion.

   

Because the first office hour webinars will be held this week, we are providing the details below. Remember to register using the appropriate link on the Webinars page once the full schedule is posted.

1/27/2019 – RESOLVED: Lifeline Support Center Live Telephone Support Outage

Update 4:55 PM ET: USAC has resolved the telephone issues with the Lifeline Support Center. All support features are now available for consumers and service providers.

________________________________________________________________________________

The Lifeline Support Center is experiencing a system outage that prevents customer service agents from providing live telephone support. National Verifier processes, including manual review of Lifeline applications, are not affected.

Consumers can still access the features of the Lifeline IVR. Consumers and service providers who need Lifeline support during the outage should email LifelineSupport@usac.org.

USAC is working to restore live agent support to the Lifeline Support Center. We apologize for the inconvenience.

1/25/2019 – News Brief Issued

1/25/2019 – Reminder: FCC Form 555 due January 31, 2019

• The FCC Form 555 instructions, including how service providers in National Verifier states must complete the form, and bulk upload template are on the Lifeline Program Forms page
• The December FCC Form 555 webinar, which includes a walk-through of the form
• How to account for subscribers covered under hurricane relief orders
• E-File login help: email us at customersupport@usac.org
• Additional help: email us at Form555@usac.org  
  

1/25/2019 – NLAD Security Update: March 2019

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.