Latest News: E-Rate

Don’t Miss Out: BEAR and SPI Deadline for FY2024 Recurring Services Is Almost Here!

FY2024 Recurring Services Invoice Deadline Approaching The final invoicing deadline for most FY2024 recurring service FRNs is fast approaching. Now is the time to confirm that all BEAR (Form 472) and SPI (Form 474) invoices are submitted and certified. For most applicants, October 28, 2025, was the last day to submit invoices. Applicants that received a one-time invoice extension have until Wednesday, February 25,

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FCC January 2026 Streamlined Decision (DA 26-1)

FCC Issues January 2026 Streamlined Decisions Impacting Universal Service Programs January 2, 2026, | DA 26-1 The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau released its January 2026 Streamlined Public Notice (DA 26-1) resolving numerous appeals, waiver requests, and petitions for reconsideration across the E-Rate (Schools and Libraries), Cybersecurity Pilot, Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), Rural Health Care, and Lifeline programs. The Bureau granted limited relief where applicants

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Upcoming Deadline to Submit FY2024 or Prior BEAR/SPI Invoices for Non-Recurring Services

The deadline to submit BEAR and SPI invoices for non-recurring services for FY2024 and prior funding years is fast approaching. The final deadline is Wednesday, January 28, 2026. This later deadline reflects the September 30 purchase and installation deadline for internal connections equipment, which extends invoicing beyond the recurring services deadline. Please review all remaining FRNs and confirm that invoices have been submitted or

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What to Work on Now (FCC Form 470 Filling and 471 Preparation)

If you haven’t started the 470/RFP competitive bidding process, make sure the following steps are in place. Wednesday, March 4, 2026, is the deadline to post your FCC Form 470 to the USAC website, or issue an RFP, and still complete all of these actions before the Form 471 Application Filing Window closes. Clarify your needs Decide on using an RFP Maintain compliant, open bidding Add

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Brooklyn Library Order: FCC Doubles Down on Strict E‑Rate Bid Scoring Compliance

On December 19, 2025, the FCC released the order and denied Brooklyn Public Library’s two Applications for Review and affirms full recovery of its FY 2014 E-Rate funding after finding that the library failed to follow its own bid evaluation process and did not select the most cost-effective bid. The FCC determined that this error constituted a substantive competitive bidding violation—not a waivable clerical

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