Do I file Form 470 or Form 471 first?

Form 470 first. The 28-day Form 470 competitive-bidding window must close, a vendor must be selected, and a contract or month-to-month agreement must be in place before the applicant files Form 471 to request the actual funding commitment.

Can the same applicant file both Form 470 and Form 471 in the same funding year?

Yes. In fact, the normal sequence is one or more Form 470 filings during pre-procurement, then a Form 471 (or several Form 471s) during the annual filing window to request funding for the resulting contracts.

Is Form 470 the funding application?

No. Form 470 is the public competitive-bidding notice. The funding application is Form 471, which lists each contract as a Funding Request Number (FRN) and triggers USAC review.

Can a service provider help an applicant prepare a Form 470?

No. Under 47 CFR § 54.503, service providers may not prepare or assist with an applicant's Form 470. Doing so disqualifies the provider from bidding on the resulting contract.

Comparisons

Form 470 vs Form 471: What's the difference?

Quick answer

Form 470 opens E-Rate competitive bidding by describing the services an applicant wants. Form 471 requests the actual funding commitment after the 28-day Form 470 window closes and a service provider is selected. They are sequential steps in the same E-Rate funding cycle.

Side-by-side comparison

Attribute	Form 470	Form 471
Purpose	Open competitive bidding	Request E-Rate funding
Filed by	Applicant (school / library / district)	Applicant (school / library / district)
When	Before procurement (any time of year)	Annual filing window (typically mid-Jan to late March)
Names a vendor?	No	Yes — by SPIN
Triggers	Mandatory 28-day vendor-response window	USAC Program Integrity Assurance review
Output	Public bid posting on USAC Open Data	Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL)
Identifier	Form 470 application number	Form 471 application number + FRNs
Public after certification?	Yes	Yes

Form 470 in plain English

Form 470 is the public notice an applicant files before they can spend E-Rate money. It describes the services or products the applicant wants to procure — internet access, internal network equipment, structured cabling, managed broadband — and triggers a mandatory 28-day window during which any eligible service provider may respond.

Once certified through USAC's E-Rate Productivity Center, the Form 470 becomes part of the public USAC Open Data record. It does not commit funding; it only opens the bidding process.

Form 471 in plain English

Form 471 is filed after the Form 470 28-day window closes, the applicant has evaluated vendor responses, and a winning service provider has been selected. The 471 names the SPIN of that vendor, attaches the resulting contract or month-to-month agreement, and lists each line of service as a separate Funding Request Number (FRN).

USAC's Program Integrity Assurance team reviews the 471. If approved, USAC issues a Funding Commitment Decision Letter and the applicant can begin invoicing for reimbursement.

Where they fit in the timeline

Pre-procurement. Applicant files Form 470 describing the services they want.
28-day window. Service providers review the public Form 470 and submit responses.
Vendor selection. Applicant evaluates responses against published criteria, selects a winner, and signs a contract.
Annual filing window. Applicant files Form 471 (typically January–March) listing the contract as one or more FRNs.
USAC review. PIA reviews and issues a Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL).
Service + invoicing. Service is delivered; invoicing happens via BEAR or SPI for the committed funding year (July 1–June 30).

FAQ

Common questions

Do I file Form 470 or Form 471 first?: Form 470 first. The 28-day Form 470 competitive-bidding window must close, a vendor must be selected, and a contract or month-to-month agreement must be in place before the applicant files Form 471 to request the actual funding commitment.
Can the same applicant file both Form 470 and Form 471 in the same funding year?: Yes. In fact, the normal sequence is one or more Form 470 filings during pre-procurement, then a Form 471 (or several Form 471s) during the annual filing window to request funding for the resulting contracts.
Is Form 470 the funding application?: No. Form 470 is the public competitive-bidding notice. The funding application is Form 471, which lists each contract as a Funding Request Number (FRN) and triggers USAC review.
Can a service provider help an applicant prepare a Form 470?: No. Under 47 CFR § 54.503, service providers may not prepare or assist with an applicant's Form 470. Doing so disqualifies the provider from bidding on the resulting contract.

Track new Form 470s the moment they're certified.

ERateSignal polls USAC Open Data continuously and surfaces every new Form 470 — filtered by state, category, service type, applicant size, and consulting firm.

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This guide summarizes publicly available FCC and USAC guidance for educational purposes and is not legal or procurement advice. Verify all information directly with USAC or qualified counsel before making business decisions. ERateSignal is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by USAC, the FCC, or the U.S. Government.