All BEARs (regardless of funding year) will continue to be filed in the existing BEAR applicant login area (
https://www2.sl.universalservice.org/bear/login.aspx). Applicants will use their existing PIN to create and certify BEAR forms.
However, beginning July 1:
- No paper BEARs will be accepted.
- Service provider certifications will no longer be required for any BEAR form submitted on or after July 1, 2016. BEAR certifications will only be performed by applicants.
- BEAR payments will be made directly to the applicant by electronic funds transfer rather than passing through the service provider first. Banking information must have been provided by applicants on a Form 498 prior to any BEARs being filed.
If you have any in process FY2015 BEARsIf you have any BEARs that you have submitted but that the service provider has not yet approved, work with the provider to make sure they are certified by June 1. This is a guideline to ensure that your forms are processed appropriately, not a hard deadline. As June 30 is the last day that service providers will be approving BEAR forms, USAC will cancel BEARs that remain uncertified by the service provider after that date.
If you have any unsubmitted FY2015 BEARsIf on June 1 you have any FY2015 BEARS that you have not yet submitted, USAC is encouraging applicants to hold onto them and wait to submit them after July 1. For example, you may want to wait to file a BEAR for monthly recurring services for May and June. The deadline to submit an FY2015 BEAR is October 28, 2016.
Before you submit BEARs July 1 or laterFile the Form 498 by July 1. You must have a Form 498 in place in order to receive direct deposit reimbursements for BEARs for any funding year that you submit on or after July 1. You will not be able to certify your BEAR until the Form 498 has been filed. The Form 498 is available in EPC now. A guide for the Form 498 is available at
http://networkmaine.net/erate/EPC/EPC.htm (this is the go to place for all EPC guides).