Step 6: Invoicing

Invoicing USAC for the discount portion of the bill for the approved eligible services begins after Invoicing Prerequisites (see below) are met. The E-Rate Program has two methods of invoicing. Invoicing method is the Applicant’s choice. Invoicing is performed within the E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC).

Invoicing Prerequisites

1. Beginning in Funding Year (FY) 2026, E-Rate program applicants are required to select their preferred invoicing mode, either the Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR / FCC Form 472) or Service Provider Invoicing (SPI / FCC Form 474), on their FCC Form 471. Note: The decision can be changed either before a Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) is issued by using the Receipt Acknowledgement Letter (RAL) process or after the FCDL is issued via an FCC Form 500.
2. File FCC Form 486 (Receipt of Service Confirmation and Children’s Internet Protection Act Certification Form)
3. The Service Provider must have filed FCC Form 473 (Service Provider Annual Certification or SPAC). Check your Service Provider’s SPAC status at the Open Data FRN Status Tool
4. Ensure you file for Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections (BMIC) services correctly on your FCC Form 471.
   • Mistakes are often identified during invoicing. Read our BMIC FAQs for guidance on how to fix misclassified equipment.
5. Ensure you have correctly listed the bandwidth speed under the approved FRN on your FCC Form 471.
   • If you’re using a flexible bandwidth speed, enter the details into the min/max field.
6. Make sure all equipment purchased is installed before the Service Delivery Deadline.
7. Payments (see Obligation to Pay).
   • BEAR Invoices: Applicant must pay service provider in full before invoicing E-Rate.
   • SPI Invoices: (Applicant pays the service provider their non-discounted portion). Before submitting FCC Form 474, service providers should bill their customers for:
     • The non-discounted portion of costs for the approved eligible equipment/services and
     • Any costs for the ineligible portion of equipment/services.

Invoice Filing Deadline

In a May 2026 Order, FCC 26-30, the FCC modified the invoice deadline rule, 47 CFR 54.514(a) with changes effective June 18, 2026. Under the amended section 54.514 of E-Rate’s rules, the Invoice Deadline Date (IDD) is no later than the latest of the following:

• 120 days after the last date to receive service (or service delivery deadline).
• 120 days after the date of the Funding Commitment Decision Letter.
• 120 days after the date of an RFCDL approving a post-commitment request or appeal of a previously denied or reduced funding request that is impacting requests for reimbursement.
• 60 days after the date of the first notification of a denial or reduction of a timely filed request for reimbursement.

To view your invoice deadline date, review your Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) or Revised Funding Commitment Decision Letter (RFCDL) in the E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC). To view invoicing and other related deadlines for multiple FRNs, use the E-Rate FRN Status Tool FY2016+ within E-Rate’s Open Data tools as an additional resource. The E-Rate Tools page has additional context on Open Data Tools.

Upon request, invoice filers are entitled to a one-time, 120-day deadline extension per FRN. The request must be made before, or within 15 days after, the original IDD.

USAC Communications

After processing your BEAR Form, USAC issues a BEAR Notification Letter in your EPC Newsfeed with information about the processing of your invoice. USAC also issues a copy of this letter to your service provider(s).
If there is a denial or reduction of the amount requested on the SPI Form, you can refer to the associated invoice decision code(s) for more information.

Next Steps

For many applicants, invoicing is the last step in the process. However, if you have changes, corrections, or other activities outside of the regular application process, you should review the information in Before You’re Done.