An Introduction to the Schools and Libraries Program, or “E-Rate”

Agenda

• Introduction

• Overview

• Summary

What is the Schools and Libraries Program about?

• Administered by the Universal Service Administration Company (USAC)

• Directed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

• Provides discounts to assist most schools and libraries in the acquisition of affordable telecommunications and internet access

What is the Schools and Libraries Program about?

• Supports connectivity

• Funding for 4 categories of service– Telecommunications– Internet Access– Internal networking– Maintenance

• Based on poverty levels and urban/rural ratios

• must provide equipment, software, professional development, etc.

Maintaining Program Integrity

• Payment Quality Assurance Program (PQA)– Generates quality data

for monitoring improper payments

The Applications Process• Step 1: Determining

Eligibility– Schools

• Must provide elementary or secondary education

• Public, private, or charter• Non-profit• No endowment exeeding $50 Million

– Non-traditional• Head start, Pre-K, Juvenile Justice or Adult• Educational Service agency, if providing

elementary or secondary education

– Libraries• Must meet statutory definition found in

the 1996 Library Services & Technology Act, and be eligible for assistance under that act

• Budgets separate from any school• Non-profit

The Applications Process

• Step 2: Develop a technology plan– Details how technology

infrastructure will be used to meet goals

– Must contain the following elements, and be approved by USAC:• Goals & Strategy for usage• Professional Development plan• Technology Assessment Tools• Ongoing evaluation

The Applications Process• Step 3: Open a

competitive bidding process– Filing the Description of

services Requested and Certification form (Form 470)

– Applicants Must:• Describe services or functions

for support• Identify category of services• Identify recipients of service• Follow all state & local laws• Wait 28 days after form 470 is

posted before selecting vendor or executing contract

The Applications Process• Step 4: Select the most

cost-effective service provider– Waiting Period

• Vendor selected after 28-day period is over

– Bid Evaluation• Must construct for consideration of

bids where price is primary factor

– Contract Guidance• May choose vendors from state

master contracts; must comply with state & local procedures

– Document Retention• Must save all documentation for 5

years• Must certify on Form470 their

awareness of possible audit

The Applications Process• Step 5: Calculate the

Discount Level– Applicants must use Services

Ordered and Certification Form (Form 471) to calculate discount via FCC discount matrix

• Primary measure is % of students eligible for free lunch program; district calculates shared discount from all eligible schools

• Libraries use data from school district in which they are located; shared discount calculated from all library branches in school

• Applicant must determine rural/urban status for proper calculation of discount

The Applications Process

• Step 6: Determine the eligible services– Applicants may request

discounts for products and services

– 4 categories• Telecommunications Services• Internet Access• Internal Connection• Basic Maintenance

– Eligibility based on FCC rules

The Applications Process• Step 7: Submit application

for support (Form 471)– May be filed Electronically or by

hard copy

– Must be certified to be considered complete

– Must be post-marked by close of filing window for funding year• Product & services requests filed on item

21 attachment

• Item 25 certification- must certify that funding for non-discounted portion of costs has been secured

• Receipt Acknowledgement Letter (RAL) will be issued to applicants

The Applications Process• Step 8: Undergo

application review– USAC reviews all forms 471 to

verify accuracy

– Applicants expedite reviews by:• Submitting complete forms• Responding to clarification requests

within 15 days• Verifying contact information

– Selective Reviews• Applicants supply all documentation

and evidence of funding of non- discounted infrastructure

– Results• In denied, USAC provides Resource

Deficiency Advisory to explain areas where improvement is needed

The Applications Process

• Step 9: Receive you funding decision– Following review, USAC issues

Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDL) to both Applicants and Service Providers

– FCC rules of Priority• Telecommunications & Internet

services funded first

• Internal connection & maintenance receive next priority

– Applicant reviews FCDL for details, as well as technology plan for status and compliance

The Applications Process

• Step 10: Begin receipt of services– Before payment begins billed

entity must confirm:

• Start date of services (submit Form 486)

• Approval of Technology Plan (before submitting Form 486)

• Compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) (Submission of Form 479)

Using E-Rate for success

• Increased technology

• Increased Equity

• Greater levels of achievement for all students

• For More information, visit the USAC Website:

www.usac.org