Upcoming E-Rate Deadlines and Training Reminder
Hello E-Rate Community,
Here’s a reminder of a couple of upcoming E-Rate deadlines:
October 28, 2024 – FY2023 BEAR (Form 472) deadline for recurring services (received July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024)
- For a step-by-step guide on filing the BEAR form, go to https://www.ohio-k12.help/e-rate-support/resource-library/. The guide is under the “E-Rate Resources” section of the page.
- If you need additional time to file the BEAR, you may request and automatically receive a single 120-day extension of the invoicing deadline to submit invoices to USAC. The request for an invoice extension must be submitted on or before October 28, 2024, for the request to be timely filed. A step-by-step guide to request an extension is also available under the “E-Rate Resources” section at the URL listed above.
October 29, 2024 – First FY2024 Form 486 deadline for funding letters issued on/before July 1st, 2024
- The Form 486 deadline is 120 days from the FCDL date or the service start date (typically July 1st), whichever is later.
If you haven’t registered for my upcoming E-Rate training sessions, please do so to prepare for the 2025-26 funding year (FY2025). With the changes/additions to E-Rate for the upcoming year and in light of FY2025 being year five of the current 5-year Category 2 funding, I’ve changed the training format to hopefully make it more productive for all applicants and allow for more Q&A.
Instead of the usual “boot camp” approach, I’ve always used, I broke out the training as follows:
- The Beginners’ sessions covering the basics of the E-Rate program have been completed. If you could not attend but would like a link to the recording, please email me at lorrie.germann@education.ohio.gov.
Upcoming is:
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- Experienced (veteran) applicants to learn about the recent changes and additions to E-Rate. If you attended the Beginner’s training and would like to attend this session as well, you are more than welcome.
- Form 470 application walk-through (appropriate for both beginner and experienced filers), highlighting how to file for the new hot spot eligibility for students, staff, and library patrons, and best practices when applying for Category 2 funding.
Each session type will be repeated two to three times to accommodate schedules.
To register, go to https://www.ohio-k12.help/e-rate-support/e-rate-events/.
While the sessions listed above will benefit both school and library applicants, I will also conduct sessions geared specifically for public libraries. If you are with a public library, go to https://events.library.ohio.gov/calendar/ceohio?cid=15632&t=g&d=0000-00-00&cal=15632&inc=0 to register. You will find sessions scheduled for 10/24 (Experienced), 10/29 (Form 470 Cat 1), and 10/31(Form 470 Cat 2).
If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Lorrie
Lorrie Germann
State E-Rate Coordinator
On behalf of the Ohio Department of Education
lorrie.germann@education.ohio.gov
www.ohio-k12.help/erate
Office: 740-223-2420
Cell: 740-253-1153