Update: 2-Week Shutdown of E-rate Functions
Message Posted August 26, 2009

The SLD has just announced that the exact dates for the shutdown of all online forms, invoice and application processing related to the major IT upgrade (described below), are from Wednesday, September 2nd through Sunday, September 13th. All processing and functionality is expected to be restored at 8 a.m. EST on Monday, September 14th.

During this "blackout," no forms may be submitted online, no invoices may be submitted online, no applications will be reviewed, no funding commitments will be made, and no search features will be available on the SLD website. In other words, except for very basic website static features, the E-rate program will essentially be on hold for 2-weeks. Any paper forms that are received by USAC during the blackout will be postmarked on the day they are received, as normal.

Applicants that intend to post a 470 in the next three weeks should do so before next Tuesday, September 1 at 11:59 p.m. EST. If you miss this deadline and must post a Form 470 during the 2-week blackout, you will be permitted to mail a paper Form 470 to the SLD. The SLD will review the 470 to determine if it meets minimum processing standards, and will create a PDF version and post it to the SLD website. Likewise, USAC will post 470's filed on or after July 21, 2009 as a PDF file on the SLD website for vendors to review in order to keep the 28-day clock ticking.

For additional FAQ's on the IT upgrade and blackout, visit: http://www.universalservice.org/sl/tools/usac-it-upgrade.aspx.

If you have any questions, please contact me at jtschell@comcast.net.

-- Julie