E-rate Timeline
Please note this is a general timeline.
It might not cover the exact deadline dates for a specific E-rate fiscal year.
Funding Year
July 1 through the following June 30 (non-recurring services through the
following September 30)
FALL
Technology
Plan
Write Technology Plan with a "creation date" before date of filing Form 470. If
you are only requesting an E-rate discount on Priority 1 services - Basic telephone service
or Internet Access, a technology
plan is not required.
Form 470
Starts request for services. Posted at least 28 days before the
filing of the Form 471, keeping in mind (1) the timeframe for compliance with
all competitive bidding requirements and (2) the Form 471 application filing
window opening and closing dates. Usually file around October/November
each year. Will receive Receipt Notification Letter - RNL
from USAC.
Wait at least 28 days before signing a contract and/or
submitting your Form 471.
WINTER
Form 471 window
Tells SLD what services you want,
the provider, costs, library getting services, discount %, contract or MRM, etc. Usually early December to
mid-February preceding the start of the Funding Year (exact dates for each
funding year will be posted on the Schools and Libraries Division web site.
Form 471 must be received or postmarked no later
than 11:59 PM EST on the day of the close of the Form 471 application filing
window (exact date will be posted on our web site). Will receive Receipt
Acknowledgement Letter - RAL from USAC.
SPRING
PIA Review
SLD's Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) staff review all
applications, which can take over 8 months. PIA will contact you with questions.
FCDL sent
Starting late April, Funding Commitment Decision
Letters (FCDL) sent to applicants. This continues for months.
SUMMER - July 1 - Start of Funding
Year.
Technology Plan Approval
Final version of Technology Plan must be approved before the start of service or
the filing of Form 486, whichever is earlier.
FALL
Form 486
Confirms start of service. Must be received or postmarked no later than 120 days after the date of the
Funding
Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) or 120 days after the Service Start Date,
whichever is later.
Form 472 / Form 474
Received or postmarked no later than 120 days after the date of the Form 486
Notification Letter or 120 days after the last date to receive service,
whichever is later. Form 472 submitted by applicant for reimbursements, Form 474
submitted by provider for discounts on
bills.
Appeals
Received no later than 60 days after the date of the
Funding
Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL).