E-Rate Wave › Guides

When is my Form 486 due?

Last reviewed August 16, 2026 · Written by the team behind the E-Rate Wave tracker · Not legal advice — verify current rules with USAC.

The FCC Form 486 tells USAC that services have started for a funded FRN and certifies CIPA compliance. Funding doesn’t flow until it’s filed — and filing it late can permanently shrink the commitment.

The deadline rule

Form 486 is due 120 days after the date of the Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL), or 120 days after the service start date — whichever is later. Because FCDLs land in different funding waves, the deadline is different for every FRN, even within one district.

What happens if you file late

A late Form 486 adjusts the allowable service start date backward to 120 days before the actual filing date. In plain terms: USAC can reduce the funded amount to cover only the services delivered after that adjusted date. Money that was committed quietly becomes money you can’t invoice.

How to stay ahead of it

• File as soon as services actually start — there is no advantage to waiting.
• Track the deadline per FRN. Three funding years are typically in play at once, and each wave sets its own clocks.
• If you manage many applicants, automate the arithmetic: FCDL date + 120 days, checked against service start, for every funded FRN.