FCC Form 471 Filing

Purpose of FCC Form 471

Applicants file an FCC Form 471 (Description of Services Ordered and Certification Form) to request discounts on eligible services and equipment for the upcoming funding year. Applicants must include information on the recipients of services and service provider(s); provide detailed descriptions of services including costs and dates of service or equipment; and certify compliance with program rules.

When to File FCC Form 471

You can file the FCC Form 471 in the E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC) during the specific application filing window each year. Each year, in advance of the filing window, USAC announces the exact dates and times of the filing window on USAC’s website.

Note: You cannot certify the FCC Form 471 before the Allowable Vendor Selection/Contract Date (ACD), which is 28 days after your FCC Form 470 is submitted and certified in the EPC.

Where to File FCC Form 471

You must file the FCC Form 471 online in EPC.

If you do not have an account in EPC, call our Customer Service Center (CSC) at (888) 203-8100.

For step-by-step filing guidance on the FCC Form 471, watch the FCC Form 471 video series.

Bulk Upload Templates

Applicants with large numbers of eligible services and/or large numbers of recipients of service may want to prepare funding request data by completing the following bulk upload templates and then uploading the data to their FCC Form 471.

The current version of the templates and their version numbers are provided below.

• Category One – Data Transmission and/or Internet Access (v21.0)
  • Do not use the Category One template for any fiber requests.
  • Do not use the Category One template for Wi-Fi on buses or Wi-Fi hotspots.
• Category Two – Internal Connections (v21.0)
• Category Two – Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections (v21.0)
• Category Two – Managed Internal Broadband Services (v21.0)

Related User Guide

• FCC Form 471 Bulk Upload User Guide

After Filing FCC Form 471

USAC issues a Receipt Acknowledgment Letter (RAL) to both the applicant and the service provider(s) in EPC after the applicant submits and certifies their in-window FCC Form 471. The letter contains many of the details submitted on the form and provides a means to correct any mistakes.  Please view the FCC Form 471 Receipt Acknowledgment Letter Modification Guide for more information.

USAC issues a Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) to both the applicant and the service provider(s) in EPC after we have reviewed the funding request(s) included in the FCC Form 471 application.

Submitting Window Waiver Requests

You must submit and certify your FCC Form 471 by the close of the application filing window. If you certify your form after this date, it will be considered out-of-window and you are unlikely to receive funding.

FCC Forms 471 certified after the close of the application filing window will be put in an out-of-window status and will not be reviewed by USAC. For USAC to move these applications to an in-window status, the applicant must certify its FCC Form 471 and request – and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must grant – a waiver of the application filing window deadline.

Remember that USAC cannot approve appeals or waiver requests that ask for a waiver of the Schools and Libraries (E-Rate) program rules—you must file a request for waiver directly with the FCC.

To file a waiver request at the FCC:

• Go to the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) “Submit a Filing” page.
  • Enter “02-6” in the “Proceeding” field.
  • Provide the petitioner name for the “Name(s) of Filer(s),” which is generally a school, library, or service provider name.
  • Provide the information requested. There are certain fields that are not applicable, such as “File Number,” “Report Number,” or “Bureau ID Number.”
  • Choose “WAIVER” from the dropdown menu in the “Type of Filing” field.
• Click the text in the “Click or drop files here” field to open an upload window and attach your waiver filing and any supporting documentation. You can also drag and drop your file(s) into the field.

  Include the following information in your filing:

  • General Entity Information
    • Name of the petitioner (generally, the service provider or school/library).
    • Name of E-Rate entity (e.g. school or library) if different from petitioner.
    • Contact person’s name, title, address, and e-mail address. Note: Please include e-mail in the filing itself.
    • Include the application (FCC Form 471) number(s) at issue and Funding Request Numbers (FRNs).
  • Description of the reason for the appeal or waiver. You’ll need to explain your unique, special circumstances that led to the need for a waiver.
  • If known, cite to relevant rule that needs to be waived.
  • Attach relevant USAC denial documents/screenshots and other documentation that would be helpful.

• Review your work, make any necessary changes, and then submit your waiver request.

FCC Decision

Once the FCC decides your appeal, you will receive a cover letter and copy of the Public Notice with the decision via e-mail.

If the FCC grants your waiver request, USAC will move the filing to “in window” and move forward with processing your application.

If the waiver is denied, you can file a “Petition for Reconsideration” with the FCC within 30 days of the FCC’s decision.