I have a bit more information to provide on this subject.
*Which Year's Data Should Be Used*
USAC is interpreting the recent FCC order DA-20-1218 on this subject to
mean that due to the impact COVID-19 may have on current data, FY2019
enrollment and NSLP data can be used in place of FY2020 data.
From the order: *"Typically, applicants should provide full-time enrollment
and National School Lunch Program (NSLP) data as of October 1 prior to the
filing of the FCC Form 471, or use the most current figure available, but
we recognize that it may be difficult to report student enrollment and NSLP
numbers as of October 1, 2020 due to COVID-19."
(https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-20-1218A1.pdf
<https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-20-1218A1.pdf>)*
Therefore, as I previously advised:
- use 2019 numbers if you believe them to be the most accurate
- use 2020 numbers if you believe them to be the most accurate
In either case, make sure to verify that the numbers in your EPC profile
are correct as they could have been modified during PIA reviews.
*Entering C2 Enrollment Numbers*
Again, you can use either 2019 or 2020 numbers.
The big gotcha here is that as near as I can tell, *only two* Maine school
districts are considered to be "large" for the purposes of E-Rate - *PORTLAND
SCHOOL DISTRICT and RSU 17*
Your C2 Budget is calculated by entering one aggregated district C2
enrollment number in EPC and taking whichever number is *higher for the
district as a whole*:
[image: image.png]
*All other districts:*
*All other school districts are "small" and should enter your C2 enrollment
on a per-school basis. *This is the only way to maximize your C2 budget so
you can take whichever dollar amount is *higher for* *each school*.
[image: image.png]
_________________________________________________
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
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Anne Perloff <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, Oct 29, 2020 at 9:27 AM
Subject: Update Your EPC Profile For FY2021 E-Rate
To: Anne Perloff <[log in to unmask]>
If you intend to apply for any Funding Year 2021 E-Rate on your own behalf
(meaning filing for E-Rate for products and services other than those that
Networkmaine provides its members), the time has arrived to start your
preparations in earnest.
*The FY2021 Administrative Window opened on October 19, 2020 and will
remain open until just before the FY2021 Form 471 Filing Window opens
(likely early January 2021).*
This is your only opportunity to update the EPC profile for your school or
district. You will report data for two purposes:
(A) the student count and NSLP eligibility numbers that will be used to
calculate your FY2021 E-Rate discount
(B) the student count data that will be used to calculate your Category 2
Budget for FY2021-2025
Answers to your burning questions are below:
*What NSLP Numbers should I use to calculate my E-Rate discount?*
For best results, this is where I would usually encourage you to use the
lunch data from October 2020 reported to the Department of Education and/or
the data reported to Networkmaine on an Alternative Discount Mechanism form
during Pre-Enrollment.
However, if you believe that this year's NSLP numbers are inaccurate due to
underreporting etc, you may want to use last year's NSLP data if you
consider it to be the most recent accurate data that is available. There
has been no clear guidance on this from either USAC or the FCC. So in the
face of uncertainty, use this year's numbers if you believe them to be
accurate and last year's numbers if you do not. Just know that there may be
questions about validating your E-Rate discount during PIA.
*What should I enter for C2 Budget calculations?*
This is a brand new data point to be entered this year as FY2021 begins a
new five-year Category 2 budget cycle.
The method you will use to enter this data depends on the size of your
district. Small districts with 10 buildings or less - so that means most of
you - should generally enter C2 calculation data on a per school building
basis to ensure you can take advantage of whichever dollar amount is higher
for each building - the funding floor VS the budget multiplier *
enrollment. You might want to check out your projected C2 budget that is
reflected in USAC's E-rate C2 Budget Tool FY2021+ at
https://opendata.usac.org/E-rate/E-rate-C2-Budget-Tool-FY2021-/8z69-hkn7
before deciding which method to use.
You will be able to modify this data in subsequent years if you do not
apply for C2 in FY2021 or if your numbers change.
*What if my organizational structure changed?*
Contact me directly for assistance if you are aware of any structural
changes to your organization (e.g. split or merged school districts, new
schools, or schools that will be closing).
*So what do I have to do and how do I do it?*
Complete instructions for logging in to EPC and updating your profile are
attached. Trust me, the steps are a lot easier than the size of the
instructions imply. I've broken it down by type and size of organization
and type of data which means lots and lots of slides. Once you know the
numbers you want to use it should take you ten minutes or less to update
both!
*When should I do this?*
Although it probably seems like you have all the time in the world to make
these updates, I would recommend getting them in as soon as you have your
enrollment figures lest you forget as time passes. Once the window closes,
the EPC system will lock your profile and will not allow any changes.
_________________________________________________
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
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