On April 1, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission issued an Order waiving a number of E-rate program deadlines due to business interruptions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing that “many schools have closed and are transitioning to remote learning, and libraries are closing to reduce the risk to their staff and patrons,” the FCC issued a blanket waiver for the following deadlines:
(1) the service implementation deadline for non-recurring services for funding year 2019;
(2) the deadline for the installation of special construction equipment for all funding year 2019 applicants, as well as funding year 2018 applicants that already received a one-year extension;
(3) deadlines for requests for review or waiver of decisions by USAC, whether directed to USAC or the Commission;
(4) the invoice filing deadline; and
(5) the deadline for filing the FCC Form 486 (Receipt of Service Confirmation and Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) Certification Form).
(2) the deadline for the installation of special construction equipment for all funding year 2019 applicants, as well as funding year 2018 applicants that already received a one-year extension;
(3) deadlines for requests for review or waiver of decisions by USAC, whether directed to USAC or the Commission;
(4) the invoice filing deadline; and
(5) the deadline for filing the FCC Form 486 (Receipt of Service Confirmation and Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) Certification Form).
The Commission further instructs USAC “to give all program participants an additional 30 days to respond to information requests related to pending USAC appeals, FCC Form 500 (Funding Commitment Adjustment Request Form) requests, invoices, and all audits, including Beneficiary and Contributor Audit Program (BCAP) and Payment Quality Assurance (PQA) audits.”
The FCC Order may be viewed here or at https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-extends-key-e-rate-program-deadlines-due-covid-19-pandemic.
