December 19, 2019Updated Joint Guidance on Privacy and Student Education and Health RecordsThe U.S. Department of Education and the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released updated joint guidance today addressing the application of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule to records maintained on students. The guidance, which was first issued in November 2008, clarifies for school administrators, health care professionals, families, and others how FERPA and HIPAA apply to education and health records maintained about students. The revised guidance ...

AnnouncementsImportant Deadline Reminder: Filing FCC Form 500 Service Delivery and Contract ExtensionsThe deadline for delivery and installation of non-recurring services such as Category One broadband installation and Category Two Internal Connections is generally September 30, following the close of the funding year. Applicants with funding requests that contain non-recurring products or services that have not yet been delivered or installed must start working now on filing the FCC Form 500 to request USAC to extend the service delivery deadline and report extended contract end dates.The service delivery and/or contract extension requests must be submitted to USAC on or before the Septembe...

Announcements and NewsComments Due on Proposed Eligible Services List for FY2020On August 2, 2019, the FCC released (DA 19-738) seeking comment on the proposed eligible services list (ESL) for the E-Rate program for funding year 2020.The ESL does not include substantive changes, however, continued support for Managed Internal Broadband Services (MIBS), caching, and Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections (BMIC) may be subject to change. Absent Commission action on the Category Two Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) (FCC 19-58), continued eligibility of MIBS, caching and BMIC will vary for applicants that began their five-year Category Two budget cycle in FY2015 versus those that first re...

E-RATE NEWS FLASHContents:Announcements Funding Commitment Summary Pending Dates and Deadlines Upcoming Training Events E-rate Process: Activities to Work on NowAnnouncements Category 2 Budget Inflation Factor AnnouncedIn the March 8, 2019, Schools and Libraries News Brief, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) announced the Funding Year 2019 Category 2 budgets, indexed to an inflation factor of 2.2%.          By School: Number of students enrolled at school multiplied by $159.669053922          Libraries with an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) locale code of 11, 12, or 21: Tota...

E-RATE NEWS FLASHContents:Announcements Funding Commitment SummaryPending Dates and DeadlinesUpcoming Training EventsE-rate Process: Activities to Work on NowAnnouncementsCALNET 3 Contract Extensions PostedMany public agencies including public schools and libraries utilize the state master contract CALNET 3 for the purchase of broadband and telecommunications services, some of which may be eligible for E-rate discounts. California's Department of Technology has recently posted extensions to CALNET 3 through June 30, 2020, on the California Department of Technology website. California E-rate applicants citing the CALNET 3 contract on their Funding Year 2019 FCC Form 471 funding requ...

E-RATE NEWS FLASHAnnouncements Limited Waiver for Victims of October 2017 California Wildfires and Additional Opportunity to Request ReliefOn January 3, 2019, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a limited waiver (DA 19-15 ) for victims of the October 2017 wildfires in eight counties designated by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as eligible for disaster relief. The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) published a list of affected applicants and issued instructions on how affected applicants may initiate requests in its January 22 USAC News Brief. It is important to note while this particular decision is limited, the FCC stated in its decision than any...

E-RATE NEWS FLASH Announcements Limited Waiver for Victims of October 2017 California WildfiresOn January 3, 2019, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a limited waiver (DA 19-15 PDF) for victims of the October 2017, wildfires in eight counties designated by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as eligible for disaster relief: Butte, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Sonoma, Lake, Orange, and Yuba. Applicants in the affected counties may have additional time to file appeals or requests for waiver with the FCC or the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) and to file FCC Forms 486, Forms 472, and Forms 474. Applicants that had E-rate records destroyed b...

Issue 18-08September 6, 2018E-rate News FlashContents:·         Announcements·         Pending Dates and Deadlines·         Upcoming Training Events·         E-rate Process: Activities to Work on NowAnnouncementsFCC Issues Public Notice on Draft Eligible Services List for FY 2019On July 30, 2018, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice (DA 18-789) establishing the comment period for the Funding Year (FY) 2019 Eligible Services List (ESL). Comments on the draft ESL, which is atta...

In this News Flash, the California Department of Education (CDE) presents a new format that includes the following sections:·Announcements·Pending Dates and Deadlines·Upcoming Training Events·E-rate Process: Activities to Work on NowAnnouncementsFunding Year 2019 FCC Form 470 is Available in the E-rate Productivity CenterThe FCC Form 470 for Funding Year 2019 is available to file in the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC). There are some notable changes in the Form, including new clarification text pertaining to services delivered over fiber. These changes are explained in the June 29, 2018 Schools and Libraries News Brief at https://www.usac.org/sl/tools/news-briefs/preview.aspx?id=839.Pending...

Below is a PDF of pages 55 through 69 of the CALPADS Data Guide Version 9.3 that explains various program eligibilty and participation guidelines.   

The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a non-pricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas. CEP allows the nation's highest poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications. Instead, schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals based on their participation in other specific means-tested programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). File Name: CEPfactsheet File Size: 425 kb Download File File Name: california...

E-rate News FlashFunding Year 2018–19 Funding CommitmentsThe Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) has released the first four waves of funding commitments for the 2018-19 funding year. As of May 11, 2018, funding commitments for California schools exceed $65.4 million.Those local education agencies (LEA) that received a Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) must now do the following:1. Review the FCDL for accuracy. The FCDL has a new format which can be previewed in a six-minute video provided by USAC. The video is located on the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) Online Learning Library Web page at, https://www.usac.org/sl/about/outreach/videos/Funding-Commitment-Decision-L...

Entity Profile Update We want to thank all of the Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) that were able to update their entity profile in the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) to include the County-District-School (CDS) number prior to the close of the Administrative window. A total of 1,837 sites now have the added CDS number to help them through the Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) review process.Important Funding Year 2018 Dates and Deadlines The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) announced on December 14, 2017 the E-rate Funding Year 2018-19 application filing window dates.·         The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Form...

Important Funding Year 2018 Dates and Deadlines The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) announced on December 14, 2017 the E-rate Funding Year 2018-19 application filing window dates.• The administrative Window (used to update Entity Profiles in the E-rate Productivity Center) closes January 10, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. EST.• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Form 471 window: opens January 11, 2018 at noon EST and closes March 22, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. EST.• The last day to file the FCC Form 470 is February 22, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. EST.  The EPC Administrative Window is Open until January 10 at 11:59 p.m. EST! This is our second reminder encouraging Local Educationa...

FCC ACTS TO RESTORE INTERNET FREEDOMReverses Title II Framework, Increases Transparency to Protect Consumers, Spur Investment, Innovation, and Competition -- WASHINGTON, December 14, 2017—The Federal Communications Commission today voted to restore the longstanding, bipartisan light-touch regulatory framework that has fostered rapid Internet growth, openness, and freedom for nearly 20 years. Following detailed legal and economic analysis, as well as extensive examination of comments from consumers and stakeholders, the Commission reversed the FCC's 2015 heavy-handed utility-style regulation of broadband Internet access service, which imposed substantial costs on the entire Internet ecosystem...

E-rate Funding Year 2018 Application Filing Window Opens January 11, 2018I am pleased to announce the Funding Year (FY) 2018 FCC Form 471 application filing window opens Thursday, January 11, 2018, at 12:00 noon EST and closes on Thursday, March 22, 2018, at 11:59 PM EDT. This filing window is more in keeping with those used in prior funding years.Applicants can begin preparing now for the successful filing of their FY 2018 funding applications by taking the following steps:Step 1 - Install Browser Updates: Google Chrome is the preferred browser for EPC, but no matter which browser you use, be sure the latest version is installed on your computer.Step 2 - Establish Account and User...

E-Rate News FlashE-rate Funding Year 16 (2016–17) Invoicing DeadlineMonthly recurring services received between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017 have an invoicing deadline of October 30, 2017. Invoicing is accomplished using one of two methods.     1.  The local education agency (LEA) submits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Form 472, also known as the Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) form, to the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to receive reimbursement, after each invoice is paid in full.     2.   The Service Provider submits FCC Form 474, also known as the Service P...

Commitments for Funding Years 2017 and 2016Funding Year 2017. USAC is scheduled to release Funding Year (FY) 2017 Wave 21 Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDLs) on October 20. As of October 13, FY2017 commitments total over $1.48 billion.Funding Year 2016. USAC is scheduled to release Wave 66 FCDLs on October 17. As of October 13, FY2016 commitments total just under $2.91 billion.On the date that FCDLs are issued, you can access your FCDL notification from the Notifications section of your landing page in the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC).FCC Releases FY2018 Eligible Services ListOn October 5, 2017, in Public Notice DA 17-973, the FCC released the Eligible Services List (ESL) fo...

Commitments for Funding Years 2017 and 2016Funding Year 2017. USAC is scheduled to release Funding Year (FY) 2017 Wave 20 Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDLs) on October 12. As of October 6, FY2017 commitments total over $1.43 billion.Funding Year 2016. USAC is scheduled to release Wave 65 FCDLs on October 10. As of October 6, FY2016 commitments total over $2.90 billion.On the date that FCDLs are issued, you can access your FCDL notification from the Notifications section of your landing page in the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC).Update on Fall TrainingUSAC will be conducting in-person E-rate training sessions for 2017 at these four locations:Washington, DC area on October 10Nationa...

E-Rate NewsflashPost Application Filing Window RemindersThe filing window for the 2017–18 E-rate funding year closed on May 11, 2017. Local Education Agencies (LEAs) that submitted an FCC Form 471 may continue to review these forms and submit corrections, if needed, until the Funding Commitment Decision Letter is issued.A detailed list of the corrections that can be made, as well as instructions for how to submit the corrections can be found in the Schools and Libraries Program (SLP) News Brief dated May 12, 2017, which is archived on the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) Web page at http://www.usac.org/sl/tools/news-briefs/preview.aspx?id=772.Program Integrity Assurance ReviewThe SLD has...