Skip to main content
NC School Connectivity Initiative

This Week in ECF and E-rate

October 26, 2021

Items of interest for this week include: 

  • Opening of the Administrative Window 
  • Cat2 Mini-bid New Vendor Contacts 
  • New Website 
  • Training Reminders 
  • ECF Update 
  • Form 498 
  • PRC Update 

The Administrative Window opened today (October 26) and will remain open until right before the Form 471 application window opens. During this time, you should do the following: 

  • Update parent and child entity addresses and phone numbers 
  • Update user profiles 
  • Add new child entities 
  • Remove closed child entities 
  • DO NOT CHANGE student enrollment or NSLP/CEP numbers until we send you the State Valid File (SVF) in December. 

*Whether you plan to file for E-rate or not, it is imperative that these things are updated in your profile. You are a member of our state consortia for your Internet and your information impacts our state filings as well. Reach out for assistance if needed. 

The Cat2 Mini-bid spreadsheet has been updated with new vendor contact information and is posted on our website (https://sci.fi.ncsu.edu/category-2-fy2022/).  Please ensure you have the latest version before you send out quote requests. Do not use the min-bid from last year. Several vendors have changed personnel and/or email addresses. 

We have a new website! It may look the same but it is not! WEBSITE   We will be including School Connectivity on our site. Stay tuned! Please bookmark the new web address. 

Don’t forget, our fall training starts next week with Session I for New to E-rate personnel. There are other training sessions being offered as well. Check out our website for more details and registration information. 

ECF Window 1 Wave 3 funding rolled out this week. Congratulations to those who received FCDLs.  NC has over $100M committed in ECF funding to date. 

If you are still waiting to hear back about your ECF application, you should be: 

Double checking that you have completed all the registrations necessary for applying for and/or receiving ECF support, including: 

  • Obtaining a DUNS Number, 
  • Obtaining an FCC Registration Number, 
  • Obtaining a Billed Entity Number, and 
  • Registering with SAM.gov. 

Many of you may have received a PIA request around October 18 regarding this information, make sure you answer it. 

Additionally, if you want to make this process go faster, file a Form 498! This form can be filed in EPC and once completed, can be conveyed to the reviewer. Go HERE for assistance or contact us. 

PRC 073/036 – WAN and fiber maintenance stipends, as well as matches for Category 2 in Wave 28 allotments have been sent to DPI finance for disbursement.