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.
April 2021
| 4/2/2021 |
4/9/2021 |
4/16/2021 |
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- New certification requirements for national supply chain
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- Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) Review
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March 2021
| 3/5/2021 |
3/12/2021 |
3/19/2021 |
3/26/2021 |
- Reminders on evaluating bids
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- New One Portal terms and conditions
- Extended CSB hours
- Interim SPIN
- FCC Form 471 filing reminders
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- FY2021 FCC Form 473 available
- Last-minute FCC Form 471 filing tips
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- Next Steps Related to the FY2021 Application Filing Window
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February 2021
| 2/5/2021 |
2/12/2021 |
2/19/2021 |
2/26/2021 |
- FCC Public Notice DA 21-98
- FCC Form 470 reminders
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- February 17 webinar details
- FAQs from eligible services webinars
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- Reminder of February 25 invoicing deadline
- Invoice deadline changes due to RFCDLs
- FCC Form 470 reminders
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- What to do if you missed the February 25 invoicing and/or FCC Form 470 deadlines
- Document retention reminders
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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
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- Office hour webinars – list and registration
- Preparing for the FY2021 filing window
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- January 27 eligible service webinars for advanced users and beginners
- FY2021 FCC Form 471 bulk upload templates
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- Change to invoice review process
- Upcoming webinars
- January 27 eligible services webinar recording
- February 25 invoicing deadline information
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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
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- Letter to the Field for FY2021
- FY2021 Application Filing Window opens January 15, 2021
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November 2020
| 11/6/2020 |
11/13/2020 |
11/20/2020 |
- Fall 2020 training recordings available
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- Fall 2020 Training – Frequently Asked Questions from November 4 presentations
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- Fall 2020 Training – Frequently Asked Questions from November 5 presentations
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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
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- Additional FCC guidance on C2 budgets
- EPC admin window opening
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- 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
|
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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
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- Website updates for Park Hill Order
- Extension of gift rule waiver and participant response deadlines
- One Portal login tips
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- Second filing window to open for schools to request additional bandwidth due to COVID-19
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- Second FY2020 filing window opens today at noon EDT
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| 9/25/2020 |
- One Portal reminder
- FAQs on the second FY2020 filing window
- Erratum for 9/18/2020 and 9/21/2020 issues
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August 2020
| 8/7/2020 |
8/14/2020 |
8/21/2020 |
8/28/2020 |
- How to file the applicant FCC Form 498
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- New C2 budget tool for FY2021+
- MFA updates and tips
- Outage notices for this weekend
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- Obtaining a PIN
- New EPC features
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- Reminders for date field entries on invoices
- Update on processing waived and extended program deadlines
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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
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- MFA coming on July 27 – information for first-time users
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- FCC releases draft Eligible Services List for FY2021
- MFA deployment starts tonight, July 24
- FY2021 FCC Form 470 reminders
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- How to troubleshoot issues with MFA access
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June 2020
| 6/5/2020 |
6/12/2020 |
6/19/2020 |
6/26/2020 |
- Tips for filing FCC Form 486
- Description of COMAD process
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- FCC Form 470 for FY2021
- Extended FCC Form 486 deadlines updated in EPC
- EPC updates
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- Updates to three search tools and the Tools page
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- MFA for EPC and BEAR Form Filers Coming in July 2020
- Requesting a 30-Day Extension of the Invoice Deadline
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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
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- First wave for FY2020
- PIA review
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- Filing an FCC waiver
- CIPA requirements
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- COVID-19 resources for schools and libraries
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| 5/22/2020 |
5/29/2020 |
- Summer Deferral Starts Today
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- Legacy tool updates
- Filing FCC Form 486 early
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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
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- How to cancel a copied FRN
- Contract reminders
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- Extended CSB window hours
- USAC implementation of deadline extensions
- Filing window tips
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- Extended CSB window hours
- More filing window tips
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