Download - E-Rate 101: Basics of the program
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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
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Who is eligible to participate
• Libraries
• Schools
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Library Eligibility
• Non-profit, public libraries
• Eligible for LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act)
• Can be:– single library– consortia– library system
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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
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What is My Discount?
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Two criteria make up discount:
• Poverty• Location
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Poverty
• Based on National School Lunch Program Eligibility
• As a school, you are allowed to use October 1 data or “most current figure available”
• Libraries use discount from school district in which they are located.
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Location Location • Urban/Rural defined
by Counties
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Iowa counties which are urban:
• Black Hawk• Dallas• Dubuque• Johnson• Linn• Polk• Pottawattamie• Scott• Warren• Woodbury
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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%
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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
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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!
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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
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Eligible Services: Internet Access (priority 1)
Eligible Services: Internet Access (priority 1)
• Internet Access Services
• Web hosting service
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(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)
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Eligible Services: Maintenance of internal connections (priority 2)
• Maintenance of previously purchased internal connections (does NOT include end-user equipment such as computers)
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Proposed changes for FY 08
• Centrex as basic phone service
• How distance learning and video conferencing may be eligible as Internet Access
• A definition of eligible web hosting
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Discounts come in 2 forms:
– Discounts on bills OR– Reimbursements
from service provider (service provider gets reimbursed by USAC)
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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
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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
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General rules of e-rate
• Competitive bid on SLD web site for 28 days
• 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
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“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.
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Fair Warning!
• Not an easy process• Lots of paperwork• Rewards can be great!
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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
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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 1
• When you e-mail that, copy yourself to keep an electronic paper trail for use when/if PIA asks
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More on Tech plans
• USAC (PIA) has started asking to see–Your approved tech plan
–Your tech plan approval letter
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What to say about the budget
• Statement such as, “During the 2006-07 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 2008-09 and will use the same funding sources.”
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More about budgeting
• If planning to request E-rate funding for internal connections, indicate where the non E-rate $s will come from.
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Tip 1: Get organized
• Create a notebook
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Tip 2: Get frequent updates
• Listserv:
• USAC offers frequent updates
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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
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Who are the E-rate players?
• Congress• FCC (Federal Communications
Commission)• USAC (Universal Services
Administrative Company)• SLD (Schools and Libraries
Division)
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Now You Know the Rules….Let’s Walk Through the
Application Process
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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
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Form 471
Form 471: “window” opens in November and closes in February (dates not yet set)
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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
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Online form 486
• New online 486 version
• Improved over earlier version but still has technical glitches
• If you have technical issues, call 1-888-203-8100 and report them
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Reimbursements?
• Must file form 472(BEAR form which is now available in online version)–Rumor has it that small providers
won’t participate in the online BEAR
• If filing on paper, must use most recent version
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Year 2008-09 Details (funding year 2008)
• 7/1/2008 - 6/30/2009 services provided
• Application “window” opens at least 30 days after Eligible Services List is released by FCC
• If you don’t file form 471 by deadline, funding will be denied (although Bishop Perry decision has altered some denials)
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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]• 515-669-8159