The FCC has announced the inflation-adjusted cap for the E-Rate program for Funding Year 2023 which is $4.768 billion, a 7.0% increase from Funding Year 2022. The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) reported that the total demand for Funding Year 2023 is estimated at $2.944 billion. Since 2016, E-Rate program demand has been well below the available cap, allowing for funding for all requests submitted in a timely manner and in accordance to program requirements.

The FCC Form 471 filing deadline for Funding Year 2023 closes on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 8:59 p.m. PDT. All applicants who are seeking E-Rate funding for eligible services delivered between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, must file their annual FCC Form 471 funding requests in the Universal Service Administrative Company’s (USAC’s) E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC) online portal by the March 28 deadline.

The FCC Form 471 filing deadline for Funding Year 2023 closes on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at 8:59 p.m. PDT. All applicants who are seeking E-Rate funding for eligible services delivered between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, must file their annual FCC Form 471 funding requests in the Universal Service Administrative Company’s (USAC’s) E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) online portal by the March 28 deadline.

Recently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released the approved Eligible Services List (ESL) for E-Rate Funding Year (FY) 2023. No material changes or additions were made to services eligible for E-Rate program funding. The FCC declined to add WiFi on school buses or next-generation firewalls, which include features beyond currently-eligible basic firewalls, to the ESL. With the release of the ESL, USAC can announce the annual FCC Form 471 application filing window, and we expect this announcement soon. We also expect the filing dates to be similar to FY 2022.

The deadline for invoicing the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) for Funding Year (FY) 2021 recurring services and one-time special construction is October 28, 2022. Recurring services consist of Category 1 broadband and Internet access services and Category 2 Managed Internal Broadband Services and Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections. October 28 is the last date a school or school district applicant may file an FCC Form 472 Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) form, or a service provider may file an FCC Form 474 Service Provider Invoice (SPI) for E-Rate reimbursement without an extension.

The deadline for invoicing the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) for Funding Year (FY) 2021 recurring services and one-time special construction is October 28, 2022. Recurring services consist of Category 1 broadband and Internet access services and Category 2 Managed Internal Broadband Services and Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections. October 28 is the last date a school or school district applicant may file an FCC Form 472 Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) form or a service provider may file an FCC Form 474 Service Provider Invoice (SPI) for E-Rate reimbursement without an extension.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued for public comment the draft E-Rate Eligible Services List (ESL) for Funding Year (FY) 2023. The FCC does not propose any significant changes to the ESL. Initial public comments are due September 21, 2022, and reply comments are due October 6, 2022. As noted in our previous News Flash, on May 11, 2022, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel circulated a Declaratory Ruling which, if adopted, would make Wi-Fi on school buses eligible for E-Rate support. If the Declaratory Ruling is adopted, the FCC will separately seek comment on the specific services and equipment needed to provide Wi-Fi on school buses.

FCC Announces Program Demand for Third and Final Emergency Connectivity Fund Window and Issues First Wave of Funding Commitments Over 7,300 schools and libraries requested $2.8 billion in Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) applications filed in the third and final ECF application window, including over 500 applicants from California requesting close to $500 million. The FCC estimates there is at least $1.5 billion available to fund applications nationwide. Because demand exceeds available funds, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) will first process applications filed by schools and libraries in the most rural and impoverished areas. USAC issued the first wave of funding approvals for applicants in both rural and urban areas that have a 75% or higher rate of poverty, typically indicated by eligibility for the National School Lunch Program. The FCC has not yet announced where it expects the funding cut-off to be in terms of applications filed by organizations with less than a 75% poverty rate. We will report this information as soon as it becomes available.

K12HSN filed comments in opposition to this proposal. We encourage any interested parties to file in support of these comments through the Express Comment feature in the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System under proceeding number 21-455. You may view the entire record of comments in the 21-455 docket.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a third application window for the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF). The short, 15-day application window will open on April 28, 2022 and will close on May 13, 2022. ECF program funds may reimburse schools for the purchase of internet service and laptops or tablets necessary for students and teachers to participate remote learning activities away from school. This third application window is for purchases made on or after July 1, 2022 for a maximum 12-month period ending December 31, 2023.