School’s almost back, the popsicles are half‑melted, and USAC is still cranking out decisions. Here’s what you can do right now—before the back-to-school scramble kicks in.
- “Did I get funded?” → Go peek at E-rate Manager®
Wave 13 hit on July 17, pushing FY2025 commitments past $ 1.54 billion. Log in, happy dance, then sanity-check every FRN digit. One typo today = one October migraine.
Guide tip: Screenshot your FCDL summary and scribble the 486 due date on it. Future‑you will thank past-you!
- Form 486: Start the clock (120 days!)
You’ve got 120 days from the later of your FCDL date or service start date. Miss it and you may have some challenges.
Guide tip: Batch file by provider. You’ll spot inconsistencies faster—and you only have to get in the groove once.
- BEAR (Form 472) season prep
Going the reimbursement route? Make sure Form 498 (banking + UEI) is approved before you BEAR. Deadline: 120 days after the last day of service or your 486 Notification Letter—whichever comes later.
Guide tip: Mark “Oct 28?” on your calendar, then double-check your actual date. Many are later—don’t leave money on the table.
- Next year started this Month (FY2026, already?)
Form 470s opened July 1. Need new contracts or more bandwidth? Post now—the 28‑day clock is friendlier in August than in January.
Guide tip: Draft your evaluation rubric before you post. When bids drop, you’ll judge like a pro instead of scrambling like a game show contestant.
- Cybersecurity Pilot applicants—eyes up
In the $200M pilot? Funding requests are due September 15, 2025. Lots of competitive bidding windows close around August 1. Don’t let your firewall slip by.
Guide tip: Make a one-pager mapping each product to an eligible category. Reviewer questions go from “ugh” to “easy.”
Quick‑Action Checklist
- ✅ Check Wave 13 FCDLs in E-rate Manager®; log every FRN’s 486 deadline.
- ✅ File/verify Form 498 if you’ll BEAR.
- ✅ Calendar your BEAR due date (service end +120 or 486 letter +120).
- ✅ Post FY2026 Form 470s now; queue RFPs, rubrics, timelines.
- ✅ Pilot peeps: hit the Sept. 15 request deadline and keep your forms tidy.
As always, your Funds For Learning Guides are here to support you! Join our My E-rate Guides Webinar on August 7th for expert tips and insights, or subscribe to our weekly newsletter for E-rate news and updates right to your inbox.
