Weekly SL News Brief

The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program News Brief will give you information about upcoming funding commitments, tips to help you through the application process, and other timely information.

How to Subscribe

This electronic news brief is issued weekly via subscription. To subscribe, visit our Subscription Center. To unsubscribe, click the “unsubscribe” link located in the bottom of the email you received.

Published Editions

The SL News Brief is published on the website and in the E-rate Productivity (EPC) News feed. Published editions from the past year are available below.

If you would like a copy of an older edition, please visit the SL News Brief archive.

July 2021

7/2/2021	7/9/2021	7/16/2021	7/23/2021
FY2022 FCC Form 470 deployed Additional information on PIN removal process	ECF Program filing window dates BEAR PIN removal update Feedback requested on IT enhancements FCC Form 500 and equipment transfers	Register for July 27 equipment transfer webinar Troubleshooting issues with One Portal access	SL News Brief takes a summer break Sign up for the July 27 webinar ECF Program reminders and updates

June 2021

6/4/2021	6/11/2021	6/18/2021	6/25/2021
Certify incomplete FCC Forms 470 by June 25 Requesting a deadline extension to complete FY2020 special construction	Update on removal of BEAR PIN requirement EPC deployment news	Schedule for BEAR PIN removal Supply Chain Order reminders	Certify incomplete FCC Forms 470 by June 25 Update on FY2022 FCC Form 470 Change to One Portal dashboard Reminders on disposal and transfer of equipment

May 2021

5/7/2021	5/14/2021	5/21/2021	5/28/2021
CIPA reminders Registration opens for two May 26 webinars	Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program Upcoming webinars	Responding to PIA review questions in EPC	Selective review overview Getting started with ECF

April 2021

4/2/2021	4/9/2021	4/16/2021	4/23/2021
New certification requirements for national supply chain	Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) Review	Invoicing Dataset	Detailed information on Invoicing Dataset Two webinars on Invoicing Dataset
4/30/2021
Filing FCC Form 486 early Supply chain office hours session for service providers on May 26

March 2021

3/5/2021	3/12/2021	3/19/2021	3/26/2021
Reminders on evaluating bids	New One Portal terms and conditions Extended CSB hours Interim SPIN FCC Form 471 filing reminders	FY2021 FCC Form 473 available Last-minute FCC Form 471 filing tips	Next Steps Related to the FY2021 Application Filing Window

February 2021

2/5/2021	2/12/2021	2/19/2021	2/26/2021
FCC Public Notice DA 21-98 FCC Form 470 reminders	February 17 webinar details FAQs from eligible services webinars	Reminder of February 25 invoicing deadline Invoice deadline changes due to RFCDLs FCC Form 470 reminders	What to do if you missed the February 25 invoicing and/or FCC Form 470 deadlines Document retention reminders

January 2021

1/8/2021	1/15/2021	1/22/2021	1/29/2021
Learn section updates Admin window closes 1/13/2021, FY2021 filing window opens 1/15/2021 Designating your Tribal status System ideas and enhancements documents	Office hour webinars – list and registration Preparing for the FY2021 filing window	January 27 eligible service webinars for advanced users and beginners FY2021 FCC Form 471 bulk upload templates	Change to invoice review process Upcoming webinars January 27 eligible services webinar recording February 25 invoicing deadline information

December 2020

12/4/2020	12/11/2020	12/18/2020	12/22/2020
Fall 2020 Training – Frequently Asked Questions from November 6 presentations	Order FCC 20-178 PQA requests going out Usability modifications to USAC website Additions/corrections to three fall training FAQs	FCC extends gift rule waiver CSB reduced hours AUP audits Winter deferral period starts today	Letter to the Field for FY2021 FY2021 Application Filing Window opens January 15, 2021

November 2020

11/6/2020	11/13/2020	11/20/2020
Fall 2020 training recordings available	Fall 2020 Training – Frequently Asked Questions from November 4 presentations	Fall 2020 Training – Frequently Asked Questions from November 5 presentations

October 2020

10/2/2020	10/9/2020	10/16/2020	10/22/2020
More FAQs on the second FY2020 filing window Changes to the BEAR review process / BEAR Notification Letter	More FAQs on the second FY2020 filing window Reminder on system ideas and enhancements documents	Additional FCC guidance on C2 budgets EPC admin window opening	Registration now open for fall 2020 training
10/23/2020	10/30/2020
Second FY2020 filing window processing reminder EPC admin window C2 Budget Tool 2021+ updates FCC Form 486 deadline reminder	EPC admin window tips

September 2020

9/4/2020	9/11/2020	9/18/2020	9/21/2020
Changes to FY2021 FCC Form 470 drop-down menus Reminders for new EPC users and BEAR Form filers	Website updates for Park Hill Order Extension of gift rule waiver and participant response deadlines One Portal login tips	Second filing window to open for schools to request additional bandwidth due to COVID-19	Second FY2020 filing window opens today at noon EDT
9/25/2020
One Portal reminder FAQs on the second FY2020 filing window Erratum for 9/18/2020 and 9/21/2020 issues

August 2020

8/7/2020	8/14/2020	8/21/2020	8/28/2020
How to file the applicant FCC Form 498	New C2 budget tool for FY2021+ MFA updates and tips Outage notices for this weekend	Obtaining a PIN New EPC features	Reminders for date field entries on invoices Update on processing waived and extended program deadlines

July 2020

7/10/2020	7/17/2020	7/24/2020	7/31/2020
MFA coming on July 27 for EPC users and BEAR Form filers Feedback on user experience-related IT enhancements	MFA coming on July 27 – information for first-time users	FCC releases draft Eligible Services List for FY2021 MFA deployment starts tonight, July 24 FY2021 FCC Form 470 reminders	How to troubleshoot issues with MFA access