October 1, 2025 – As of today, the federal government has entered a shutdown, suspending most operations of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). According to FCC guidance, the majority of Commission functions will pause until funding is restored.
Despite this lapse, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), which administers the federal E-rate program, will remain open and fully operational. This means that schools and libraries may continue to post their FCC Form 470s and conduct competitive bidding for E-rate supported services.
The E-rate Administrative Window, which allows applicants to update student counts and other profile information, is expected to open as previously scheduled on October 15, 2025. The official filing window for the Form 471 has not yet been set.
During the shutdown:
- FCC staff will not be available to provide support or review filings unrelated to spectrum auctions or emergencies.
- FCC systems such as the Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) and Universal Licensing System (ULS) will be inaccessible.
- USAC’s customer service and program support for E-rate applicants will continue.
This follows the precedent set during previous federal government shutdowns, when E-rate program administration carried on without interruption.
Funds For Learning will continue monitoring the situation closely and provide updates as new information becomes available.
