**** Note that the below information only applies to entities that file
their own E-Rate forms. If you only participate in E-Rate as a member of
the Networkmaine Consortium and do not file for any additional E-Rate
funding, then you do not need to complete these steps. ****


As always, there are a few E-Rate forms to take care of this time of year.
Due to COVID-19, these deadlines have been extended, but if you can get
them off your plate now, I suggest doing so lest you inadvertently miss
your extended deadline.

Note: Access to filing E-Rate forms in EPC and the BEAR system will be
contingent on you having set up your new One Portal Multifactor
Authentication. If you have not already set up MFA, you will need to do so
before you can file E-Rate forms.


*FY2020 Form 486*

After receiving a Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) for a Funding
Request Number (FRN), this form is the next step to be completed in order
to request E-Rate reimbursements. The Form 486 notifies USAC that services
have started and that invoicing for the E-Rate discount portion of those
services can begin, and also certifies the entity's CIPA compliance.

Every FRN on every Form 471 for which you receive an FCDL must be included
on a Form 486. As your various FRNs are likely to appear in different
funding waves, you may very well end up with different Form 486 deadlines.
Keep track of the deadline for each FRN because if your Form 486 is late,
USAC will deduct a portion of your approved funding. When you log into EPC
and create a new Form 486, only those FY20209 FRNs which have already
received an FCDL will be available to include on a Form 486.

*Form 486 Deadlines:*

For those FRNs in the early funding waves dated prior to July 1 (assuming
services started on July 1):
October 29, 2020

For those FRNs with an FCDL dated July 1 or later:
120 days after the date of the FCDL or the start of services (whichever is
later)

Deadline Extension:
Due to COVID-19, the FCC has given applicants with Form 486 deadlines that
fall between March 11, 2020 and September 30, 2020 an additional 120 days
to submit forms, but this is one of the forms that is easy to forget to
complete, so I suggest filing while it is fresh on your mind.



*FY2019 BEARs*

Any outstanding FY2019 BEARs to request reimbursement for bills paid for
2018-2019 products and services also need to be filed. Depending on how
often you file, this could be BEARs for the entire year, or just the last
quarter or last month.

*BEAR Deadline: *

The normal deadline of October 28, 2020 was also extended 120 days by the
FCC due to COVID-19 - having said that, why wait? File now so the
reimbursements are in your bank account!

_________________________________________________

Anne Perloff
Maine State E-Rate Coordinator for Schools
Networkmaine, University of Maine System US:IT

Web: erate.networkmaine.net

Email: [log in to unmask]

Phone: 207-581-3584

Mail:
Networkmaine
5752 Neville Hall, Room 255
Orono, ME 04469-5752