** 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 from multiple funding years to take care of this time of year that you might want to get done before the fall semester begins to get them off your plate. 


FY2020 BEARs

File any outstanding FY2020 BEARs to request reimbursement for bills paid for 2020-2021 products and services. Depending on how often you file BEARs, this could be for the entire funding year, or just the last quarter or last month.

As of July 12, you no longer have to enter your full BEAR PIN credentials after logging into One Portal using multifactor authentication. Choose the BEAR Form option on your One Portal dashboard to access the BEAR Form login screen, enter the appropriate Billed Entity Number (BEN), click the Login button, and start or continue working on a BEAR Form for that BEN.

If you do not have access to BEARs through your One Portal dashboard - the most common reason being you have never filed BEARs - instructions for obtaining access are in the attached BEAR guide along with the steps for filing a BEAR form. 

FY2020 BEAR Deadline: October 28, 2021


FY2021 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.

Instructions for filing a Form 486 are attached.

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 FY 2021 FRNs which have already received an FCDL will be available to include on a Form 486.

Form 486 Deadlines: