July 23, 2026
E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC) Updates.
USAC made a few updates to EPC including a News feed update for Quarterly E-Rate Payment Authorization Reports. The reports can now be found in the News feed by entering the Billed Entity Name or Billed Entity Number in the News feed search box. Also, the FCC Form 473/SPAC is now available to view as a Record within EPC Invoicing. Service Provider users can navigate to My Forms and Requests and select FCC Form 473 to view SPAC forms filed in EPC.
July 23, 2026
Deadline Approaching: Update FCC Form 498 with SAM.gov Registration and UEI
On August 10, USAC will start using the banking information in SAM.gov to remit E-Rate disbursements. All E-Rate service providers and BEAR filers (applicants using the FCC Form 472 to receive disbursements) must have an active SAM.gov registration including a bank account and must have added their SAM.gov Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) to their FCC Form 498 in EPC to receive disbursements.
Service providers and BEAR filers who have not completed the SAM.gov registration process and added their UEI to EPC can submit invoices, but their payments will be held until these steps are completed.
When submitting E-Rate invoices, please confirm that the FCC Form 498 selected contains your UEI if you have more than one FCC Form 498. USAC recommends deactivating any FCC Forms 498 no longer in use for disbursements. For more information, visit USAC’s SAM.gov UEI Requirement webpage.
July 23, 2026
USAC’s Beneficiary and Contributor Audit Program
As part of the Beneficiary and Contributor Audit Program (BCAP), USAC’s Audit and Assurance Division (AAD) initiates audits each year to assess compliance with E-Rate program rules. When a BCAP audit is announced, the auditor calls the main point of contact (POC) for the selected school or library (for beneficiary audits) or the service provider (for service provider audits).
For service provider audits, AAD also notifies the beneficiaries receiving services from the audited provider to inform them that an audit is underway and that AAD may reach out for assistance with specific documentation requests, such as competitive bidding records.
For beneficiary audits, AAD notifies the service providers associated with the funding requests selected for audit to make them aware that their customer is being audited and that AAD may request supporting documentation.
State E-Rate coordinators are also copied on audit announcement emails for awareness. Please note that the email sent to the state E-Rate coordinator is not the same communication shared with the audited entity.
Audit-related documents are shared securely through Box, USAC’s current file-sharing platform. In accordance with USAC policy:
- Documents are not sent as email attachments to prevent unauthorized or inadvertent sharing.
- All files are uploaded to a secure Box folder, which is accessible only to the audited entity’s main POC (and any other individuals expressly authorized to access the folder).
- Files in Box are password-protected, and the password is provided during the announcement call or entrance conference.
- Box setup instructions are shared with the main POC to ensure secure access.
We recommend that all applicants and services providers take the time now to organize and save all documents related to your application in a manner that will allow you to easily locate and retrieve them for any future needs. Go to the E-Rate Document Retention page and review the E-Rate Program List of Documents to Retain for Audits and to Show Compliance with Program Rules to learn more. If your organization receives a BCAP audit notification, please follow the instructions provided. Questions can be directed to auditinquiry@usac.org
July 23, 2026
Prepare for the Upcoming Competitive Bidding and FCC Form 470 Process
The FY2027 FCC Form 470, which must be submitted and completed to start the competitive bidding process, became available July 1, 2026, in EPC. Applicants with long procurement cycles or other reasons for starting their FY2027 competitive bidding processes early may complete and certify this form in EPC.
The FY2027 FCC Form 470 was updated to display guiding language on the Category Two service selection screen and to remove ineligible Bus Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Hotspot services. The FY2027 FCC Form 470 now includes two additional options under the manufacturer list dropdown to include frequently requested manufacturers and includes the required “or equivalent” language when selecting “Other” from the manufacturer dropdown menu.
Please reference the following resources where you can find more information about how to comply with the E-Rate program’s Competitive Bidding rules:
- Applicants: How to keep the bidding process open & fair, the 28-day waiting period before signing a contract, evaluating bids and selecting a service provider, Competitive Bidding Infographic, and Competitive Bidding Frequently Asked Questions.
- Service Providers: How to respond to bids, requirements for Lowest Corresponding Price (LCP), Competitive Bidding Document Retention (List of Documents to Retain), Competitive Bidding Infographic, and searching for FCC Form 470s using the FCC Form 470 Download Tool. The March 31, 2026, Service Provider Webinar provides service providers with information on how to find applicant service requests and how to bid on services. View webinar slides.
July 23, 2026
E-Rate Program Overview
This webinar will provide an overview of the E-Rate application process and explain basic program concepts. We will also highlight recent program changes, including the recent FCC Form 470 updates and managing your Category Two budget. This webinar is intended for program participants of all experience levels and will include a question-and-answer session. Register.
