Announcements

October 20, 2025

Resolved: Call Center Disruption

Thank you for your patience – this issue has been resolved. The phones for USAC’s Customer Service Center for E-Rate, Lifeline, High Cost, and Rural Health Care are currently experiencing disruptions. We are working to resolve the issue. If you need assistance, please contact USAC by email or create a ticket in EPC. We apologize for the inconvenience.

October 1, 2025

FY 2025 Eligible Service List Amended

Consistent with recent direction from the Commission, the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) released a Public Notice (DA 25-920) with an amended version of the funding year (FY) 2025 eligible services list (ESL).  This amended version of the FY 2025 ESL supersedes the prior version and reflects changes stemming from two items adopted by the Federal Communications Commission on September 30, 2025. The Hotspots Order on Reconsideration rescinded the rules related to Wi-Fi hotspots, making the equipment and associated wireless Internet services ineligible for E-Rate support in FY 2025.  Similarly, the 2025 School Bus Wi-Fi Declaratory Ruling found school bus Wi-Fi, or other similar access point technologies, including the equipment needed to provide such service, are ineligible for E-Rate support beginning in FY 2025.

FY 2026 Eligible Services List Public Notice

WCB also released a Public Notice (DA 25-921) on September 30, 2025 requesting comments on the proposed FY 2026 eligible services list (ESL). WCB proposes revisions on the classification of software-based services and licenses and seeks comments on managed internal broadband services (MIBS), basic maintenance of internal connections (BMIC), and the definitions of these services. Comments are due on or before October 15 and reply comments on or before October 30, 2025. 

September 24, 2025

FY2025 FCC Form 486 Deadline Reminder

Generally, October 28, 2025 is also the deadline to file an FY2025 FCC Form 486 if your FCDL is dated on or before July 1, 2025 and your service start date is July 1, 2025. If these conditions apply to you, please submit and certify your FCC Form 486 on or before this deadline.

If your FCC Form 486 appears to be late, we will send you an FCC Form 486 Urgent Reminder Letter to remind you that the FCC Form 486 is due. The service start date you reported on your FCC Form 471 is used to determine when the letter is sent, so if your service start date has changed, your deadline may have changed as well.

This reminder letter is posted to your EPC News feed and is emailed to the contact person on the FCC Form 471. You have 15 days after the date of the reminder letter to submit and certify your FCC Form 486 without penalty.

Applicants whose services started after July 1, 2025, or whose FCDLs are dated after July 1, 2025 (including any that have not yet been issued), will have an FCC Form 486 deadline later than October 28, 2025. However, we encourage you to submit and certify your FCC Form 486 as soon as possible after services start for FY2025 and if you can accurately make all the certifications on the form.

The FRN Invoice Deadline Tool provides the ability to search, view, and download invoice-related data including the FCC Form 486 status and deadline date. View the training video to learn more about this tool.

September 24, 2025

FY2024 Invoicing Deadline Reminders for Recurring Services

In most cases, October 28, 2025 is the deadline to file an invoice or to request an invoice deadline extension (IDE) for most Funding Year (FY) 2024 recurring services Funding Request Numbers (FRNs). This invoice filing deadline applies to both applicant and service provider invoices – the FCC Form 472 (Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR Form)) and the FCC Form 474 (Service Provider Invoice (SPI) and (eSPI)), respectively.

How To Request an Invoice Filing Deadline Extension for FRNs From FY2016 and Forward
Both applicants and service providers can request an invoice filing deadline extension in the ERate Productivity Center (EPC) by following the steps below. Remember that there is no penalty for requesting an invoice filing deadline extension and not using it.

Applicants:

• On your invoicing landing page, click the link to the billed entity record (the name in the Welcome! link near the top of the page or the first entry under the My Entities section).
• Select the Related Actions menu and choose Invoice Deadline Date Extension Request.

Service Providers:

• From the Records tab at the top of any EPC page, click the Service Providers option.
• Use the Search function to locate your service provider record.
• Select the Related Actions menu and choose Invoice Deadline Date Extension Request.

You can use the E-Rate FRN Status Tool FY2016+ to find the invoicing filing deadline by searching for the FRN(s) and looking in the “Last Date to Invoice” column.

September 24, 2025

EPC Administrative Window Opens October 15, 2025

The EPC administrative window is the period during which applicants can make updates to their profile information including student counts, National School Lunch Program (NSLP) participation rates, library square footage, and the entities and individuals associated with your entity including consulting firms, in EPC to prepare for the upcoming FY2026 FCC Form 471 application filing window. Applicants and service providers should also review EPC account permissions and make updates as needed (see article below). The administrative window will open Wednesday, October 15, 2025 and will close shortly before the FY2026 application filing window opens in early 2026. After this time, applicant profiles will be locked, and you will not be able to make changes to your profile information. FY2026 will be the first year of the FY2026-2030 Category Two (C2) budget cycle so applicants should update their student counts or library square footage as needed. The information in your EPC profile will be used to calculate a forecasted C2 budget for the FY2026-2030 cycle. Go to the EPC Administrative Window page for detailed information on updating entity profiles and join our October 21 Administrative Window webinar to learn more.

August 28, 2025

E-Rate Systems (ECF and EPC) Outage September 6 and 7, 2025 due to System Maintenance:

The Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) site will be unavailable on Saturday, September 6, 2025 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use the system. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC) and the EPC training site will be unavailable on Sunday, September 7, 2025 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET for system maintenance. During this time, users will be unable to log in to and use the system. We apologize for any inconvenience.

August 27, 2025

Requesting Service Delivery Deadline Extensions for FY2024 Non-Recurring Services (Other Than Special Construction)

The deadline for delivery and installation of non-recurring services (e.g., installations, equipment) is September 30 following the close of the funding year. For FY2024, the deadline for non-recurring services, other than special construction, is Tuesday, September 30, 2025 (the deadline for FY2024 special construction requests was June 30, 2025, the end of the funding year).

This service delivery deadline (SDD) can be extended for up to one year under certain circumstances, through an extension request. In some cases, the extension will be automatically made based on the Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) date or the revised FCDL (RFCDL) date.

Requesting Extensions

Service providers who are (1) unable to meet their service delivery deadline for reasons beyond their control or are (2) unwilling to complete delivery and installation because USAC withheld invoice payments on the services for more than 60 days, can ask the affected applicants to request a one-year extension with USAC, which must be approved.

Applicants can request the one-year extension by completing and certifying an FCC Form 500 (Funding Commitment Adjustment Request Form) on or before September 30, 2025 for FY2024 non-recurring services. If your service delivery deadline for a Funding Request Number (FRN) is approved and the deadline extended to September 30, 2026, USAC will automatically extend the invoice deadline for that FRN to January 28, 2027. There is no need to submit an invoice deadline date (IDD) extension request for an extended FRN when submitting an SDD extension request. If you do submit an IDD extension request at the same time, it will count towards your one-time invoicing extension, and you will not be able to request a second IDD extension request in the future if you need it.

If, as a service provider, you are aware of the need to request an SDD extension, work with your customer (the applicant) to have the FCC Form 500 completed and certified no later than September 30, 2025.

Automatic Extensions

If USAC issues an FY2024 FCDL on or after March 1, 2025, the SDD is automatically extended for one year to September 30, 2026. This also applies to RFCDLs issued on or after March 1, 2025, for one of the following:

• Approval of an appeal for a funding request that originally denied or reduced funding,

• Approval of a Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) change, or

• Approval of a service or equipment substitution.

The FCDL or RFCDL contains the extended SDD date when it is issued. You can also find the SDD by searching for the FRN using the E-Rate FRN Status Tool FY2016+.

August 27, 2025

Fall Training: Pre-Commitment Process September 25, 2025 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET

This webinar will discuss the E-Rate Pre-Commitment process. This includes how to get started, competitive bidding, applying for funding, and Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) review. This webinar is intended for program participants of all levels and will include a question-and-answer session. Register

August 27, 2025

Fall Training: E-Rate Program Overview September 18, 2025 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)

This webinar will provide an overview of the E-Rate application process and explain basic program concepts. We will also highlight the recent FCC Form 470 updates and managing your Category Two budget. This webinar is intended for program participants of all levels and will include a question-and-answer session. Register

August 27, 2025

Summer Deferral Period Ends September 5

Our summer deferral contact period is defined as the Friday before Memorial Day through the Friday after Labor Day. For 2025, the summer deferral contact period began May 23, and will end Friday, September 5. If participants were unable to respond during this period, the form or request was placed in a deferred status. Once the deferral period ends, USAC will continue its regular review process and, if it cannot make contact with applicants, it will continue reviewing with the information provided, which may result in a reduction or denial of funding.

July 24, 2025

Open Data Webinar Part 2: Creating Reports and Visualizations

This follow-up webinar to the Open Data Overview (Webinar 1) dives more deeply into using E-Rate’s tools. Participants can expect tangible examples on how to create custom reports and visuals for an enhanced program experience. To be successful in this webinar, you should have attended Webinar 1. Register.

July 24, 2025

Open Data Webinar Part 1: Open Data Overview

Enhance your E-Rate program experience with Open Data, USAC’s data sharing platform. This webinar is the first in a two-part series and provides an overview of the E-Rate specific tools and datasets in Open Data. Register.

June 26, 2025

2025 In-Person E-Rate Training

E-Rate experts will provide training, discuss program updates, and answer questions from new and experienced participants. Registration for these two in-person training events on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at 3:00 pm ET (this time has been adjusted to better serve program participants on both the East and West coasts). For more information on these events and to register, visit the In-Person E-Rate Training Events webpage.

E-Rate Training – Denver: September 9, 2025, at the Lowry Conference Center located in the Community College of Aurora – Lowry Campus, 1061 Akron Way, Denver, Colorado.

E-Rate In-Person Training – Washington, DC: September 16, 2025, at the Federal Communication Commission headquarters, 45 L Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. There will be an option to attend virtually.

June 19, 2025

FCC Form 470 and the Competitive Bidding Process Webinar

This webinar will provide E-Rate participants with information on how to file the FCC Form 470 and the E-Rate competitive bidding process. This webinar is designed for applicants and service providers of all levels of E-Rate experience, with a focus on beginner-level participants. Register.

June 19, 2025

Service Providers: File any SPACs for Prior Years

If you haven’t already filed your FCC Form 473 (SPAC) for FY2024 and earlier, the deadline to submit these forms is June 30, 2025. USAC will send a reminder to service providers on July 1 if they have not submitted a SPAC for any funding year, Funding Request Numbers they are associated with. Service providers will have two weeks after the reminder to file their missing SPACs, after which USAC begins the referral process to the FCC Enforcement Bureau. To learn more about service provider filing requirements, see last month’s news brief.

June 19, 2025

Category Two Funding Floors and Multipliers for Next Funding Cycle

FCC Wireline Competition Bureau issued a public notice on June 4 (DA 25-471) announcing the Category Two (C2) multipliers and funding floors for the upcoming five-year budget cycle that starts in Funding Year (FY) 2026 and runs through FY2030. For the FY2026- 2030 cycle, the C2 budget funding floor is adjusted from $25,000 to $30,175. For Tribal libraries, the funding floor is adjusted from $55,000 to $66,385.12. The school and school district C2 budget multiplier is adjusted from $167 per student to $201.57 per student, and the library and library system C2 budget multiplier is adjusted from $4.50 per square foot to $5.43 per square foot. Applicants will be required to validate their student counts or library square footage in the first year they apply for C2 support during the FY2026 – 2030 cycle.

May 23, 2025

International Society for Technology in Education’s ISTELive Conference (Texas)

Visit USAC at the International Society for Technology in Education’s ISTELive Conference (Texas), June 29–July 2, 2025. Event link.

May 23, 2025

Service Provider Webinar

This webinar is for Service Providers who are new to the E-Rate program. After attending this webinar, you will be able to: accurately describe what E-Rate is and the different steps of the E-Rate process, obtain a service provider identification number (SPIN), bid on projects, assist the applicant or beneficiary, certify compliance, and invoice USAC. Before attending this webinar, please review the E-Rate Program Overview webinar for a deeper understanding of the program. Register.

May 22, 2025

Invoicing: Applicant & Service Provider Training

The E-Rate program will host an Invoice Training Webinar. This webinar is designed to help E-Rate program participants (applicants and service providers) understand the invoicing process. The webinar will cover how to submit the FCC Form 472 (BEAR Form) and the FCC Form 474 (SPI Form), invoice deadlines, invoicing reviews, and more. After the presentation, there will conduct a live Q&A session. This webinar is recommended for Applicants and Service Providers at all E-Rate experience levels. Register.