January 2024

Topics in this issue:  

1. Funding Year 24 Filing Season
2. PRC 036/073 Wave 1 Allotments
3. Changes to the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
4. January Digital Leaders Exchange
5. End of Emergency ECF Equipment Usage
6. Upcoming Dates & Reminders
7. Your E-Rate Team

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1. Funding Year 24 Filing Season

The Form 471 filing window for FY 2024 opened on Wednesday, January 17, at noon EST and will close on Wednesday, March 27, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Please ensure that your mini-bid goes out soon, if not already, so you have enough time to file by the March deadline.

Review the Eligible Services List - The Eligible Services List (ESL) for each funding year provides guidance on the eligibility of products and services under the E-Rate program. Note that for FY2024, School Bus Wi-Fi equipment and services are available. If you intend on filing for Bus Wi-Fi, please review these guidelines from Funds for Learning. USAC recommends applying for these services on a separate FCC Form 471 than your other services. Below are links to the ESL and related documents. 

• FY2024 Eligible Services List

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2. PRC 036/073 Wave 1 Allotments

We are excited to update our DTL Hub to include PRC 036/073 E-Rate funding. You can access the allotments by clicking on www.dpi.nc.gov/dtl and clicking on PRC Funding. We will keep this spreadsheet up to date throughout the year and add additional PRCs pertaining to Digital Teaching & Learning. We aim to create a useful hub for you all to access easily. If there are additional items you would like added, please let us know.  

Reminders:

• The spreadsheet is our anticipated first wave of funding (PRC 036/073) for Funding Year 23. Additional waves will be dispersed for stipends and as funds are awarded from USAC.
• If any funds were reverted, i.e., F500, adjustments were made in your PSU’s PRC allocation. 
• In the event of an error in allotments (over or under), DPI will cover underpayments, and PSUs will cover overpayments. 

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3. Changes to the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

The Affordable Connectivity Program will stop accepting new applications and enrollments on February 7, 2024. It is important to note that current ACP enrollments and those approved from applications by February 7, 2024, will be funded until funds run out (Projected to run out by April 2024). While this will definitely hinder our work around digital equity, we wanted you to be aware, as your families will be notified.  

For more information, please visit https://www.fcc.gov/acp

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4. January Digital Leaders Exchange

Dates: January 29 - 31 & February 1 

Theme: There will be 3 tracks:  One for SIS Coordinators, one for E-Rate support/filing assistance, and one for all other participants with content wrapped around Human Capacity. So come out and meet with our E-Rate coordinators!

Registration: Please use this link to register for the January DLE. Registration Link

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5. End of Emergency ECF Equipment Usage

With the ECF emergency period ending June 30, 2024, questions are arising about what rules apply to equipment that is no longer required to meet current unmet needs or will no longer be covered by ECF after June. The FCC’s list of ECF FAQs, specifically Questions 4.6 and 4.7, cover both situations and are included below. 

• 4.6 Q: If a school or library’s ECF-funded device or hotspot has been provided to a student or school staff member with an unmet need and for remote learning but is later returned during the relevant funding period, is the school or library required to redistribute the device or hotspot to another student, school staff member, or library patron with an unmet need and for remote learning? In what other ways may ECF-funded equipment be utilized after it has been returned by its originally intended user? 
  • A: Schools: If a school initially distributes ECF-funded equipment in accordance with ECF program rules (i.e., to fulfill an unmet need and for remote learning), and the item is later returned during the relevant funding period, the school is not required to redistribute the equipment to satisfy an unmet need and for remote learning purposes. For example, after initially distributing the equipment in accordance with the rules, the school may use the equipment in classrooms, provide the equipment to a student or staff member who does not have an unmet need, or keep the equipment on the school campus while identifying a new unmet need without violating the rules.

• 4.7 Q: Will program rules regarding limitations on the use of ECF-funded equipment continue to apply after the conclusion of the program?
  • A: After the emergency period ends on June 30, 2024, schools and libraries have the discretion to use eligible equipment as they deem appropriate so long as it is used for educational purposes, remains subject to the three-year prohibition on resale set out in section 54.1713(b), and the school or library complies with the asset inventory requirements set out in section 54.1715 of the Commission’s rules.

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6. Upcoming Dates & Reminders

• January 29 - Invoice (or invoice deadline extension request) deadline for FY 2022 nonrecurring service FRNs
• January 29 - Feb. 1 - Digital Leaders Exchange
• February 28 - Last day to file a Form 470 for FY 2024 to allow its posting for at least 28 days before the Form 471 application window closes. Please note that any applicant waiting until February 28th to file a Form 470 would have to review all bids, select vendors, sign contracts and upload them into EPC, create and file their Form 471, all on March 27th when the EPC is likely to be at its busiest. This is NOT a recommended course of action!
• March 6-8 - NCTies Conference | Raleigh, NC
• March 27 - Close of the Form 471 application window for FY 2024. To be considered as having been filed “in window,” Form 471s must be filed and certified by 11:59 p.m. EDT.

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7. Your E-Rate Team

Below are the NCDPI State E-Rate Coordinators. Please get in touch with them if you have any E-Rate questions or would like support with your filing. 

Name & Email	Regions Supported	Teams Booking Link
Sue Boros	LEAs - Regions 1-8	Sue's Booking Link
Adam Benjamin	LEAs & Charters - Regions 5-8	Adam's Booking Link
Jill Elberson	Charters - Regions 1-4	Jill's Booking Link

 

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NC Department of Public Instruction

301 North Wilmington Street Raleigh, NC 27601

Email: erate@dpi.nc.gov