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E-Rate 101: Basics of the Program Fall 2008 Funding Year: 2009-2010 A copy of the PowerPoint is available at: http://www.iptv.org/iowa_datab ase/erate/
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E-Rate 101: Basics of the Program
Fall 2008Funding Year: 2009-2010
A copy of the PowerPoint is available at: http://www.iptv.org/iowa_database/erate/
What is E-rate?
• Discount Program for Schools and Libraries• 20-90% discounts on telecommunications
services, Internet access, internal connections and maintenance for internal connections
• Annual $2.25 billion program nationwide• NOT a competitive grant program
Who is eligible to participate?
• Libraries
• Schools
Library Eligibility
• Non-profit, public libraries
• Eligible for LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act)
• Can be:– single library– consortia– library system
School Eligibility
• All public schools:– school districts– AEAs
• “Other school programs” as determined by Iowa Department of Education (see DE Directory)
• Non-profit, private K-12 schools with endowment of $50M or less
• Must meet federal definition of elementary or secondary school
What is My Discount?
Two criteria make up discount:
• Poverty• Location
Poverty
• Based on National School Lunch Program Eligibility
• Direct Certification Data is permitted (not just the number of students participating in NSLP)
• As a school/district, you are allowed to use October 1 data or “most current figure available”
• Libraries use discount from school district in which they are located.
Location Location
• Urban/Rural defined by Counties
Iowa counties which are urban:
• Black Hawk• Dallas• Dubuque• Johnson• Linn• Polk• Pottawattamie• Scott• Warren• Woodbury
Discount Matrix
Percent of Eligible Students
Urban Rural
Less than 1% 20% 25%
1% - 19% 40% 50%
20% - 34% 50% 60%
35% - 49% 60% 70%
50% -74% 80% 80%
75% -100% 90% 90%
What is funded through e-rate?
• Four categories of service– Priority 1 (funded first)
• Telecommunications Services• Internet Access
– Priority 2 (starts with neediest applicants)• Internal Connections• Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections
Eligible Telecommunications (priority 1)
Eligible Telecommunications (priority 1)
MUST be provided by regulated telecommunications carrier
e.g.– local & long distance– distance learning (such as ICN video)
Including all taxesand surcharges!
Eligible Telecommunications (priority 1) cont.
• VoicemailVoicemail
• Satellite dish service for 2-way Satellite dish service for 2-way communications (NOT satellite TV communications (NOT satellite TV subscription)subscription)
• Cell phone service Cell phone service
• CentrexCentrex
• Blackberry-type serviceBlackberry-type service
Eligible Services: Internet Access (priority 1)
Eligible Services: Internet Access (priority 1)
• Internet Access Services
• Web hosting service
• Blackberry-type service
(Eligible Services: Internal Connections priority 2)
(Eligible Services: Internal Connections priority 2)
– Wiring– Routers– Switches– Hubs– Network servers– System operating
software– Wireless LANs– Private branch
exchange (PBX)
Eligible Services: Maintenance of internal connections (priority 2)
• Maintenance of previously purchased internal connections (does NOT include end-user equipment such as computers)
Proposed new eligible services for FY 09
• Filtering service/software (even if not provided by your Internet Service Provider)
• Telephone broadcast service
• Text messaging via cell phones
• Dark fiber
More proposed new eligible services
• Firewall service
• Anti-virus/anti-SPAM software
• Interconnected VoIP (OK in 2007 and 2008 as Internet access)
• Wireless Internet (e.g. use on school buses for students to do their homework)
Where can we see the eligible services list?
Answer: Draft eligible services list is at http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-180A1.pdf
Discounts come in 2 forms:
– Discounts on bills OR– Reimbursements
from service provider (service provider gets reimbursed by USAC)
How Discounts Work
$100 (existing) bills you would pay You apply to for discounts
You get 55% in discounts
You now only owe $45
The vendor’s bill drops by $55
Vendor gets $55
from SLD!
Vendor invoices USAC/USAC approves
invoice
How Discounts Work
How Reimbursements Work
10/9/2007 CDE/VET/E-rate/CTF 2000-2001 (BEGINNER)
$100 (existing) bills you would pay You apply to for discounts
You get 55% in discounts
You apply for reimbursement
You pay 100% of bill
Vendor sends
you $55!
USAC approves paperwork/sends check to
vendor
How Reimbursements Work
General rules of e-rate
• Competitive bid on SLD web site for 28 days
• Price must be the single most important factor
• Application in ‘window’ to SLD each year• SLD funds on rules of priority
– Priority 1: Telecom and Internet Access– Priority 2: Internal Connections and Maintenance
“2 in 5 Rule”
• Applies only to internal connections (priority 2)
• An applicant can only get internal connections funding in 2 out of 5 years
• Questions about this? Give me a call.
Fair Warning!
• Not an easy process
• Lots of paperwork
• Rewards can be great!
What about the tech plan?
• Must contain required 5 elements
• Must be written before filing the 470
• Applicant must be able to provide the plan and proof of the date it was written when asked by PIA
• 4 of the 5 elements are in your approved district/school CSIP
More on tech plans
• The Iowa Department of Education has provided a template which needs to be completed and sent to the AEA by November 3
• When you e-mail that, copy yourself to keep an electronic paper trail for use when/if PIA asks
More on Tech plans
• USAC (PIA) has started asking to see–Your approved tech plan
–Date your tech plan was created (must be before form 470 is filed)
–Your tech plan approval letter
What to say about the budget
• Statement such as, “During the 2007-08 school year, our district spent $XXXX on hardware, software and professional development to support e-rate activities. We used $YYY from the General Fund and $ZZZ from Title I and $JJJ from other grants. We anticipate our district will spend the same amount in 2009-10 and will use the same funding sources.”
More about budgeting
• If planning to request E-rate funding for internal connections, indicate where the non E-rate $s will come from.
Tip 1: Get organized
• Create a notebook with tabs:–Tech plan–Form 470–Form 471–Form 486
Tip 2: Get frequent updates
• Listserv:
• USAC offers frequent updates
Tip 3: Get support!
• Have a backup person in your district/library
• Build support with your business office, supt/director and tech person
• Contact your AEA e-rate expert
Who are the E-rate players?
• Congress• FCC (Federal Communications
Commission)• USAC (Universal Services
Administrative Company)• SLD (Schools and Libraries
Division)
Now You Know the Rules….Let’s Walk Through the
Application Process
Application Process at a Glance:
1. Form 470: Now until on or about December 1.
2. Wait 28 days! Must wait that long!
3. Form 471: “window” opens in November and closes in February (dates not yet set)
4. Wait for questions from PIA
5. Funding commitment decision letter
6. Form 486: file to confirm services
7. If getting reimbursements, form 472
FCC Form 470
Form 471
Form 471: “window” opens in November and closes in February (dates not yet set)
FCC Form 471
Next steps
Wait for questions from PIA, e.g. Questions about your funding request Verification of your discount Copy of tech plan and/or approval letter
Funding commitment decision letter File form 486
FCC Form 486
Online form 486
• Online 486 version
• Improved over earlier versions but still has technical glitches
• If you have technical issues, call 1-888-203-8100 and report them
Reimbursements?
• Must file form 472(BEAR form)
• Available in online format
• Service provider must OK this form (they have access to the online BEAR form with their own PIN)
FCC Form 472
Year 2009-10 Details (funding year 2009)
• 7/1/2009 - 6/30/2010 services provided
• Application “window” generally opens in November
• If you don’t file form 471 by deadline, funding will be denied (although Bishop Perry decision has altered some denials)
Resources to Remember
• SLD web site: www.universalservice.org/sl/• SLD Client Service Bureau: 888-203-8100
• www.iptv.org/iowa_database/erate
• [email protected]• 515-975-0071
