The Who, What, Where, When and Why for Filing your FCC Form 471!
Filing your FCC Form 471 can be confusing, daunting, and sometimes time-consuming! Here is the basic who, what, when, where, and why for filing your FCC Form 471!
Who is responsible for filing an FCC Form 471?
A: This process should be a joint effort between both the school district and its selected service provider! Work with your selected service providers to make sure you have the most accurate information
What is needed to File an FCC Form 471?
A: All category one services must be filed together on one Form 471 and all category two services on another. So, when preparing to file your form 471’s, be prepared to do it twice! You can find a list of Category One and Category Two eligible services on USAC’s website!
When can I file my FCC Form 471?
A: You must file your FCC Form 471 within USAC’s filing window. This year the filing window opened on January 17th, 2024, and will close on March 27th, 2024 at 11:59 PM Eastern.
Where do I file my FCC Form 471?
A: You can file your FCC Form 471 on the Universal Service Administrative Co.’s website. On their website, you will also find many tools and resources that will assist you in making filing your 471 as easy as possible!
Here is a link to the EPC portal to file your form 471.
Why do I need to file an FCC Form 471?
A: You must submit an FCC form 471 if your district is requesting discounts for their Category One or Category Two services.
Tips:
1.) Check, Recheck, and Doublecheck- Once your FCC Form 471 has been submitted, it is nearly impossible to change it! Save yourself the time and the headache by triple-checking your work!
2.) The earlier you file your Form 471, the better! Allow yourself time in case you have questions or need additional help!
3.) Utilize USAC step-by-step filing guidance video series!
Once you have submitted your FCC Form 471, USAC will send a Receipt Acknowledgement Letter (RAL) to the district and selected service provider. This letter will contain the details of their 471 filing and provide you with any, if any, means to make corrections.
You can find the RAL Modification Guide here.
As always, refer to the Universal Service Administrative Co. for a complete list of E-Rate rules and guidelines! But do remember that we here at WANRack are here to help! You can contact our team with any questions you may have, and we will try our best to point you in the right direction or help you navigate the USAC website!
