Upcoming E-Rate Deadlines and Training Reminder
Hello E-Rate Community,
Here’s a reminder of upcoming E-Rate deadlines:
October 28, 2025 – FY2024 BEAR (Form 472) deadline to file for reimbursement for recurring services (received July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025)
- For a step-by-step guide on filing the BEAR form, go to https://www.ohio-k12.help/e-rate-support/resource-library/. The guide is under the “E-Rate Resources” section of the page.
- If you need additional time to file the BEAR, you may request and automatically receive a single 120-day extension of the invoicing deadline to submit invoices to USAC. The request for an invoice extension must be submitted on or before October 28, 2025, for the request to be timely filed. A step-by-step guide to request an extension is also available under the “E-Rate Resources” section at the URL listed above.
October 29, 2025 – First FY2025 Form 486 deadline for funding letters issued on/before July 1st, 2025. The purpose of the Form 486 is to inform USAC that services have (or will) start, and that your school or library is CIPA compliant.
- The Form 486 deadline is 120 days from the FCDL date or the service start date (typically July 1st), whichever is later.
Training Registration for FY2026
If you haven’t registered for my upcoming E-Rate training sessions, please do so to prepare for the 2026-27 funding year (FY2026).
The three training sessions are as follows:
- Beginners’ (E-Rate 101) session covering the basics of the E-Rate program,
- Experienced (veteran) applicants to learn about the recent changes and additions to E-Rate,
- Form 470 application walk-through (appropriate for both beginner and experienced applicants), highlighting any changes to the form, Category 1 and Category 2 bidding best practices, and a step-by-step application walk-through to make the process a little easier.
Each session type will be repeated to accommodate schedules.
To register, go to www.ohio-k12.help/e-rate-support/e-rate-events/.
If you are with a public library:
While the sessions listed above will benefit both school and library applicants, I will also conduct sessions geared specifically for public libraries. If you are with a public library, go to events.library.ohio.gov/calendar/ceohio?cid=15632&t=g&d=0000-00-00&cal=15632&inc=0 to register. You will find sessions scheduled for 10/8 (Beginners’), 10/9 (Experienced), 10/14 (Form 470 Cat 1), and 10/16 (Form 470 Cat 2).
If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Lorrie
Lorrie Germann
State E-Rate Coordinator
On behalf of the Ohio Department of Education
lorrie.germann@education.ohio.gov
www.ohio-k12.help/erate
Office: 740-223-2420
Cell: 740-253-1153