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.

January 2021

1/8/2021
E-rate Learn section updates Admin window closes 1/13/2021, FY2021 filing window opens 1/15/2021 How to designate your Tribal status Reminder on system ideas and enhancements documents

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	FCC Order all 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

June 2020

6/5/2020	6/12/2020	6/19/2020	6/26/2020
Tips for filing FCC Form 486 Description of COMAD process	FCC Form 470 for FY2021 Extended FCC Form 486 deadlines updated in EPC EPC updates	Updates to three search tools and the Tools page	MFA for EPC and BEAR Form Filers Coming in July 2020 Requesting a 30-Day Extension of the Invoice Deadline

May 2020

5/1/2020	5/8/2020	5/15/2020	5/21/2020
Next steps related to the close of the FY2020 filing window	First wave for FY2020 PIA review	Filing an FCC waiver CIPA requirements	COVID-19 resources for schools and libraries
5/22/2020	5/29/2020
Summer Deferral Starts Today	Legacy tool updates Filing FCC Form 486 early

April 2020

4/3/2020	4/10/2020	4/17/2020	4/24/2020
Program deadlines extended by FCC Order DA 20-364 SL News Brief archive expanded	How to cancel a copied FRN Contract reminders	Extended CSB window hours USAC implementation of deadline extensions Filing window tips	Extended CSB window hours More filing window tips

March 2020

3/6/2020	3/13/2020	3/20/2020	3/27/2020
C2 Budget Tool office hour webinar Retaining competitive bidding documentation Open Data training videos EPC deployment news	Extended FY2020 application filing window Getting ready to file FCC Form 471	Waiver of FCC’s gift rules through 9/30/2020 April 1 deadline to file FY2020 FCC Form 470 Update on FCC’s Supply Chain Order	FCC’s Public Notice on community use FCC Form 470 reminders FY2020 C2 Budget Tool reminders

February 2020

2/7/2020	2/14/2020	2/21/2020	2/28/2020
Cost-effectiveness	Webinar reminder How to submit a RAL modification	Certified FCC Form 470 reminders Reminders on evaluating bids	FY2020 Category Two budget tool

January 2020

1/3/2020	1/9/2020	1/10/2020	1/17/2020
FCC Form 470 EPC Deployment News Updating EPC Account Administrators	Letter to the Field for FY2020	Category Two Budget E-rate Webinars USAC Seeks IT Enhancement Feedback FCC Form 470	Updating Entity Profiles FCC Form 470 Category Two Budget E-rate Webinars
1/24/2020	1/31/2020
FRN Balance Verifications Category One Services Drop-down Reference Table E-rate Webinars	Upcoming Dates and Deadlines E-rate Webinars FCC Report and Order Amortization Rule