The short answer
- Applicants file Form 470s now, certify Form 471s in the window in early 2027, and services start July 1, 2027.
- A 470 has to be certified at least 28 days before the 471 window closes. For funding year 2026 that cut-off was March 4, 2026.
- Invoice deadlines changed on June 18, 2026: the main deadline is now the latest of 120 days after the last date to receive service or 120 days after the commitment letter.
Funding year 2027 at a glance
| Step | When |
|---|---|
| FY2027 Form 470s open in EPC | July 1, 2026 |
| EPC administrative window (applicants update profiles) | Opened October 21, 2026; closes shortly before the 471 window |
| Form 471 filing window | Early 2027; dates not yet announced |
| Last day to certify a Form 470 for the window | 28 days before the window closes |
| PIA review and funding commitment waves | After the window closes, in waves |
| Funding year begins | July 1, 2027 |
| Form 486 (applicant) | 120 days after service starts or the commitment letter, whichever is later |
| Form 473 SPAC (provider) | From the 471 window opening; should be filed by June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year ends | June 30, 2028 |
Sources: USAC News Brief, July 2026; USAC announcements. We'll update this page when USAC announces the window dates.
Bidding season
Applicants post Form 470s from July onward, and many post in the fall and winter before the 471 window. Each 470 starts a 28-day wait before the applicant can choose a provider (see the allowable contract date), so the last 470s that can make the window have to be certified 28 days before it closes.
For reference, the funding year 2026 window ran from January 21 to April 1, 2026, and the last day to certify a 470 for it was March 4, 2026.
The FY2027 Form 470 no longer offers school bus Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi hotspot services, which the FCC made ineligible in 2025.
Review and commitments
After the window closes, USAC's Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) team reviews each application and may send the applicant questions. USAC then issues Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDLs) in waves. For funding year 2026, wave 7 came out on June 11, 2026, and commitments had passed $1.18 billion by June 17.
If you've won work, this is when your SPIN appears on funded requests in USAC's public data, which is how an award watch finds them.
After the commitment
- Form 486. The applicant confirms that services have started and certifies its CIPA compliance, within 120 days of the service start date or the FCDL, whichever is later. It is still required for funding year 2027.
- Form 473 (SPAC). You file your annual certification once per SPIN for the funding year. USAC won't pay your invoices until it's on file.
- Invoicing. Under BEAR (Form 472), the applicant pays you in full and is reimbursed. Under SPI (Form 474), you bill the applicant its share and invoice USAC for the discount. From funding year 2026, the applicant chooses the method on its Form 471.
- SAM.gov. Since September 8, 2026, USAC pays invoices only to the bank account linked in SAM.gov.
Invoice deadlines
Since June 18, 2026 (FCC 26-30), the invoice deadline for a funding request is the latest of:
- 120 days after the last date to receive service
- 120 days after the FCDL
- 120 days after a revised FCDL that approves an appeal or post-commitment request
- 60 days after the first notice that a timely invoice was denied or reduced
Each funding request also gets one 120-day extension if it is asked for before the deadline or within 15 days after it.
Sources: USAC, invoicing; USAC, invoice deadline extensions; FCC 26-30.
Funding year 2028 changes
- The FCC has ordered a USAC bidding portal starting with funding year 2028, through which bids and bidder questions will go, with answers visible to every bidder. That part of the rule takes effect once the Office of Management and Budget approves it.
- Form 486 goes away; CIPA certification moves to the Form 471.
Questions providers ask
When does funding year 2027 start?
July 1, 2027. It runs to June 30, 2028.
When is the FY2027 Form 471 window?
USAC has said early 2027 but hasn't announced the dates as of October 30, 2026. For comparison, the FY2026 window ran January 21 to April 1, 2026.
What is the last day to post a Form 470 for FY2027?
28 days before the 471 window closes, so the applicant can wait out the 28 days and still certify its 471 in the window. The exact date follows from the window dates once USAC announces them.
Is Form 486 still required?
Yes, for funding years 2026 and 2027. It is eliminated from funding year 2028.