Applicants file FCC Form 486, the Receipt of Service Confirmation and Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) Certification Form, to tell USAC that funded services have started, and to certify CIPA compliance where it applies. USAC will not begin processing invoices for a funded FRN until a Form 486 is on file and approved.
How It Works
Form 486 is filed in EPC after service actually starts, not before, for each funded FRN or a group of FRNs sharing a start date. Filing it certifies the service start date and, if the applicant is a school or library subject to CIPA, that the required internet safety policy and technology protection measures are in place.
USAC processes the 486 and marks it Approved, or Partially Approved if only some of the FRNs or sites listed qualify. Only once it's approved does invoicing become possible; see invoice deadlines for what happens next.
Filing an FCC Form 500 to adjust an FRN doesn't remove the separate obligation to file Form 486. They serve different purposes and both need to be on file. For the full filing-window and deadline detail, see our full E-Rate deadlines guide.
What This Means for You
Applicants
File Form 486 as soon as service genuinely starts, not before, and double-check the CIPA certification if you're a school or library, since that's a separate compliance requirement from the service-start date itself. A stalled 486 is a stalled invoice.
Service Providers
You can't get paid on a funded FRN until your applicant customer's Form 486 is filed and approved. If invoicing is delayed, checking 486 status in EPC with your customer is often the fastest way to find out why.
Districts more often get tripped up by the CIPA certification piece of Form 486 than by the service-start date itself. Confirming the internet safety policy and technology protection measures are actually documented, not just assumed to be in place, is the step that most often gets skipped until it holds up approval.
Common Questions About Form 486
What happens if I don't file a Form 486?
Invoicing cannot begin on that FRN. USAC holds payment until Form 486 is filed and approved.
Who signs the Form 486, the applicant or the service provider?
The applicant, since it certifies the applicant's own service start date and CIPA compliance.
Can I file it before service starts?
No. It certifies that service has already started, so it should be filed once that's actually true, not filed in anticipation of a start date.
What's the difference between Form 486 and Form 471?
Form 471 requests the funding. Form 486 confirms the funded service has actually started and unlocks invoicing on the committed FRN.
Does it need to be filed every funding year?
Yes, for each funding year's funded FRNs that have a service start.
What does "Partially Approved" mean?
Some, but not all, of the FRNs or sites listed on the Form 486 met the requirements for approval. The rest need correction or a separate filing.
Does invoicing start automatically once it's approved?
Approval unlocks the ability to invoice, but the applicant or provider still has to actually file the BEAR or SPI invoice. See invoice deadlines for how that works.
Informational only, not legal advice. E-Rate procedures and forms can change by funding year. Confirm current requirements in the applicable USAC and FCC guidance.