USACE-RateApplicant ProcessStep 6: Invoicing
FCC Form 472 (BEAR Form)

Step 5 Before You're Done

FCC Form 472 (BEAR Form)

Purpose of FCC Form 472 or Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) Form

Applicants file an FCC Form 472 (Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) Form) to request reimbursement from USAC for the discounted cost of eligible equipment and services approved on the FCC Form 471, and which the applicant has received and paid in full to its service provider.

When to File FCC Form 472

The FCC Form 472, or BEAR Form can be filed after:

  • The applicant has set up an account within the E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC).
  • Eligible equipment and services are approved on the FCC Form 471.
  • The applicant has filed an FCC Form 486 (Receipt of Service Confirmation and Children’s Internet Protection Act Certification Form).
  • The service provider has filed an FCC Form 473 (Service Provider Annual Certification (SPAC) Form) for that funding year.
  • Eligible equipment has been delivered and installed and/or services have started.
  • The applicant has paid their service provider in full for the eligible equipment and services received.
  • The applicant has filed an FCC Form 498 and obtained an applicant 498 ID.

You can file the BEAR Form as often as you wish (e.g. monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, annually). However, you must have received the eligible equipment and services described on the form and paid the service provider for them in full before you file.

Deadline: You must file the BEAR Form no later than 120 days after the latest of the following:

  • Service Delivery Deadline (the last date to receive service).
  • Date of the FCC Form 486 Notification Letter.
  • Date of the approved post-commitment Revised Funding Commitment Decision Letter.
  • Date of an approved appeal Revised Funding Commitment Decision Letter on a previously denied or reduced funding request.

How to Request an Invoice Deadline Extension

Each Funding Request Number (FRN) is entitled to a one-time automatic 120-day invoice deadline extension.  You should request an extension if there is a possibility you will not file the BEAR Form by the invoice deadline.  An invoice deadline extension request must be filed on or before the invoice deadline.

If you need an invoice deadline extension, but the deadline to request one has passed, you must first submit a waiver request to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC must grant your waiver request before USAC can extend the invoice deadline.

If you do not know your current invoice deadline, review your Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) or Revised Funding Commitment Decision Letter (RFCDL) in the E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC). To view the invoicing and other related deadlines for multiple FRNs, use the E-Rate FRN Status Tool FY2016+ within E-Rate’s Open Data tools are an additional resource.

Instructions on how to file FCC Form 472 are in the next section.