Hi E-Rate Libraries, Happy Monday! Below are some E-Rate Resources you might find useful! Form 498 and UEIs REMINDER: Beginning in August, BEAR and SPI invoices will not be paid unless applicants, and service providers have updated their Form 498 banking information with UEI numbers and have current SAM.gov registrations. Creation of UEIs can take 4-6 weeks through SAM.gov. Please be sure to verify you have your UEI on your Form 498. * The Form 498 e-learning module<https://e-ratecentral.cmail20.com/t/y-l-auihkhy-hdthuildkh-yk/> is now available for applicants. E-Rate Competitive Bidding Portal The FCC has adopted an E-Rate competitive bidding portal to become effective in FY 2028 and has provided additional guidance on program rules. For more information about the E-Rate portal, here is ALA's press release<https://www.ala.org/news/2026/04/fcc-decision-new-e-rate-bidding-portal> and FAQ.<https://www.ala.org/sites/default/files/2026-05/FAQ%20Bid%20Portal%20and%20Simplification%20RO%20-%20Final_May2026.pdf> SHLB (the Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband Coalition) is hosting a public webinar on the portal: Wednesday, June 3rd at 2pm ET. More info: A major shift is coming to the E-Rate program, and preparation now is critical for success. The FCC recently approved the requirement of a new competitive bidding portal for FY 2028 that will significantly change how applicants and vendors manage and document the bidding process. In this webinar, our panel of experts will walk through what's changing, how the new portal will work, and what steps you should expect prior to the portal's rollout. Whether you're part of a school or library system, a service provider, or another E-Rate stakeholder, you'll leave with a clearer understanding of what to expect and how to prepare. All are welcome! Register now for the webinar!<https://www.shlb.org/events/shlb-webinar-making-sense-of-the-new-e-rate-bidding-portal> Funds for Learning Annual E-Rate Applicant Survey - Closes July 21, 2026 Please consider taking this survey! Funds For Learning is conducting their 16th nationwide survey of E-rate applicants. The aggregate results are presented to the FCC and members of Congress in the fall. Survey responders receive a copy of the results, including specific data gathered from applicants in Michigan. Survey resources: * Link to the survey itself: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/26erate * A document listing each survey question: [2026 questions<https://fundsforlearning.box.com/s/jwo22djq2ezc0vvho9tx0nizzludm2tv>] (23 Questions) * A spreadsheet of last year's results: [link]<https://fundsforlearning.box.com/s/37lf0rtpub83ll5f81z54bfzdymc4kpl> (download the spreadsheet to filtered by state, MI only had 15 responders in 2025) Contact me with your E-Rate questions, comments, or concerns! Always, Shauna Quick Library Technology Access Consultant Library of Michigan, 702 W. Kalamazoo, Lansing, MI 48915 quicks1@michigan.gov<mailto:quicks1@michigan.gov> | 517-335-0126 she/her/hers [cid:be18c78f-d1f5-4de4-b86f-d0cb44b11156]<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/05de81e9d972497b8f56a791b405b02e@michigan.gov?anonymous&ep=signature> Book time to meet with me<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/05de81e9d972497b8f56a791b405b02e@michigan.gov?anonymous&ep=signature> [Michigan's Top 10 Strategic Education Plan]<https://www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/top10/top_10_mi_strategic_ed_plan_promising_practices_1_pager.pdf?rev=10f3f05c8cb140989b91565cc9364ff8&hash=08EF0354AD856A371B5D55C3E0C30C0B> [Michigan.gov/Vote logo Description automatically generated]<https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/> Get personalized voter information on early voting and other topics at Michigan.gov/Vote<https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/>.
