E-rate Update: September 18, 2026

Executive Summary

This brief highlights critical updates including the mandatory SAM.gov UEI integration for all E-Rate disbursements, urgent deadlines for FY2025 invoicing and FY2026 FCC Form 486 submissions, and the impending opening of the EPC Administrative Window for FY2027 profile updates. Prepare for the upcoming filing season by addressing these compliance requirements now.

Important Deadlines & Dates

• September 30, 2026: FY2025 non-recurring services delivery and installation deadline (if no extension was granted).

• October 1, 2026: Category Two Budgets Webinar (2-3 PM ET).

• October 7-9, 2026: SHLB Coalition AnchorNets Conference.

• October 15, 2026: EPC Administrative Window Webinar (2-3 PM ET).

• October 21, 2026: EPC Administrative Window Opens.

• October 28, 2026: FY2025 recurring services invoice deadline or request for a one-time 120-day Invoice Deadline Extension (IDE).

• October 29, 2026: FY2026 FCC Form 486 deadline for FCDLs dated on or before July 1, 2026, with a service start date of July 1, 2026.

• November 3, 2026: Eligible Services 101 Webinar (2-3 PM ET).

• Early 2027: EPC Administrative Window closes (shortly before FY2027 FCC Form 471 application filing window opens).

Critical Updates

SAM.gov Registration and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Required for Disbursements

Effective September 8, 2026, USAC began using SAM.gov banking information for E-Rate disbursements. All Service Provider Invoice (SPI) and Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) filers must:

• Have an active SAM.gov registration, including banking information.

• Add their SAM.gov UEI to their FCC Form 498 in EPC. Invoices can be submitted without these steps, but disbursements will be withheld until compliance. Confirm the correct FCC Form 498 with your UEI is selected when filing.

FY2025 Invoicing Deadline for Recurring Services

The deadline to submit an invoice or request a one-time 120-day Invoice Deadline Extension (IDE) for FY2025 recurring services is October 28, 2026. This applies to both FCC Form 472 (BEAR) and FCC Form 474 (SPI) submissions. IDE requests must be made by or within 15 days of the original deadline.

• New Tool: The new E-Rate Post Commitment Deadline Tool is available to track invoicing deadlines, FCC Form 473 (SPAC), and FCC Form 486 status.

FY2026 FCC Form 486 Deadline Reminder

The deadline to file your FY2026 FCC Form 486 is October 29, 2026, if your Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) is dated on or before July 1, 2026, and your service start date is July 1, 2026.

• Failure to meet the deadline will trigger an Urgent Reminder Letter, granting a 15-day grace period for submission without penalty.

• Applicants with later service start dates or FCDLs will have a later deadline, but early submission is encouraged once services begin.

Competitive Bidding Reminders for FY2027

The FY2027 FCC Form 470 is now available. Start your competitive bidding process early, especially for large entities, to ensure compliance.

• Key Reminders:

  • Provide sufficient information on FCC Form 470/RFP for comprehensive bids.

  • Ensure an open and fair process; make all information/updates available to potential bidders for at least 28 days.

  • Strictly abide by E-Rate Gift Rules.

  • Ensure all equipment/services requested on FCC Form 471 are listed on the FCC Form 470/RFP, including all bandwidth speeds.

  • Wait the full 28-day competitive bidding period before selecting a service provider.

  • Price must be the primary evaluation factor.

  • Follow all state and local competitive bidding rules.

  • Retain all competitive bidding documentation for at least ten (10) years.

EPC Administrative Window Opens

The EPC Administrative Window opens Wednesday, October 21, 2026. This is a critical period for applicants to update their EPC profile information in preparation for the FY2027 FCC Form 471 application filing window.

• Required Updates: Student counts, National School Lunch Program (NSLP) participation rates, library square footage, and associated entities/individuals.

• This data is used to calculate forecasted Category Two (C2) budgets for the FY2026-2030 cycle.

• The window will close shortly before the FY2027 FCC Form 471 window opens in early 2027, after which profiles will be locked.

Updating Account Administrators in EPC

Ensure your EPC account has an active Account Administrator to perform necessary updates during the Administrative Window.

• Current Account Administrators can use the "Modify Account Administrator" function.

• If an Account Administrator is unavailable, contact the E-Rate Customer Service Center (CSC) at (888) 203-8100. Note: The Account Administrator role can only be assigned to an authorized employee of the applicant, not a third-party representative.

FY2025 Non-Recurring Services Delivery & Installation Deadline

Applicants who received an extension for the FY2025 non-recurring services delivery and installation deadline of September 30, 2026, should work with service providers to extend contracts if needed. Report new contract expiration dates to USAC by filing an FCC Form 500.

Current Status

• FY2026 Commitments: Over $1.88 billion has been committed as of September 16, 2026. Wave 20 for FY2026 was released on September 10.

• PIA Delays: Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) reviews for FY2026 applications are experiencing delays. Prompt responses to USAC inquiries are encouraged to expedite processing.

• Debarments: Seven individuals were debarred on September 3, 2026, following convictions for criminal conduct related to the E-Rate program.