Topics in this Issue:
- C2 Mini-Bid for FY25 Filing
- Hurricane Helene & Milton Relief
- School Connectivity Town Hall Series
- Cybersecurity Pilot Program Support Updates
- Upcoming Dates
- Your School Connectivity Team
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C2 Mini-Bid for FY25 Filing
The School Connectivity Team has published the C2 Mini-bid and Vendor list for the upcoming FY25 filing season. These resources can be found on the SCI website by clicking the link below.
Please download a new mini-bid template, as vendor contact information has changed.
All FY25 mini-bid requests must use the new template.
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Hurricane Helene & Milton Relief
The FCC has already issued two virtually identical orders (DA 24-1025 and DA 24-1059) providing E-Rate assistance to schools and libraries severely damaged by the catastrophic hurricanes. The orders provide relief in the following areas:
- Extended deadlines for filing requests for review or waivers, Form 486s, and Form 472s.
- Service implementation deadline extensions.
- Service and equipment substitutions.
- Documentation retention and production.
- Emergency Connectivity Fund (“ECF”) program deadlines.
School Connectivity Town Hall Series
New for the 2024-25 school year, the School Connectivity team will host monthly Town Halls. The first 30 minutes will be a PD on that month's topic, followed by an open Q&A on all things E-Rate. Use the link below to visit our School Connectivity Collection on the new DTL Eventbrite site to register for our Town Hall series.
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Cybersecurity Pilot Program Updates
The FCC is using periodically updated FAQs to help interested applicants interpret the rules of the Cybersecurity Pilot Program. The most current Cyber FAQs, updated last week (with changes highlighted with asterisks), included the following new explanations:
*4.12 Q: Can equipment purchased with Pilot funds be physically installed or located at a facility that is ineligible for funding (i.e., not an eligible school or library)? For example, could a consortium purchase equipment that would be located at a facility owned or operated by its consortium leader, if the consortium leader is ineligible for Pilot funds?
A: Equipment purchased with Pilot funds can be installed or located at a facility that is owned or maintained by an entity that is ineligible for funding, so long as the equipment is for the exclusive use and benefit of the Pilot-eligible schools and libraries.
* 5.18 Q: What is the process for withdrawing from the Pilot Program once I am accepted? At what point will I be penalized and what are the potential consequences?
A: We expect that applicants selected to participate in the Pilot Program will be committed to participating for the entire three-year term. Applicants are urged to carefully evaluate whether they are able to satisfy Pilot obligations prior to submitting their FCC Form 484 Part 1 applications. To the extent a Pilot participant determines that it must withdraw from the Pilot, it should contact the Wireline Competition Bureau (by emailing cyberpilot@fcc.gov) for additional information about the withdrawal process.
Penalties for failure to comply with Pilot Program rules may result in a referral of a participant to the Enforcement Bureau, a hold on future disbursements, a rescission of committed funds, and/or recovery of disbursed funds. See 47 CFR §§ 54.2004(d)(5) and 54.2004(e). The scope of any potential consequence for non-compliance with the Pilot Program rules will depend on the specific circumstances, including whether any funds have been disbursed. The Commission does not anticipate routinely referring Pilot participants to the Enforcement Bureau for rule violations.
* 8.2 Q: When will the reporting metrics be published, so that applicants are informed of what information they will be required to report to the FCC and can ensure that potential vendors are able to provide the required data?
A: Annual reporting requirements are expected to largely mirror the information that is required in the FCC Form 484 (Parts 1 and 2). Pilot participants may also be asked to answer a series of yes/no or multi-select questions to provide additional detail regarding their cybersecurity expertise and any cyber events that have taken place during the reporting term.
In establishing reporting requirements, the Commission is sensitive to balancing its need to collect Pilot Program data with the burden it puts on Pilot participants. All reporting requirements are subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act approval process.
Additional information for this Pilot program can be found on the PSU Cybersecurity website: https://sci.fi.ncsu.edu/cybersecurity/
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact K12CyberSecTeam@dpi.nc.gov or your NCDPI E-Rate Coordinator.
Upcoming Dates
October 15 - The administrative window opened on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 and will close shortly before the FY2025 application filing window opens in early 2025. After this time, applicant profiles will be locked, and you will not be able to make changes to your profile information.
October 24 - USAC webinar on the EPC Administrative Window. Topics include how to update your EPC profiles, FY2025 Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) changes, and some Administrative Window best practices. After the presentation, there will be a Q&A session. Register.
October 28 - E-Rate invoice deadline for FY 2023 recurring services and final date to request an invoice deadline extension.
November 1 - Close of the FCC’s Cybersecurity Pilot Program Form 484 Part 1 application window.
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