e-rate program updates november 2011 mary mehsikomer ties technology integration development &...
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E-Rate Program Updates November 2011
Mary MehsikomerTIES Technology Integration Development & Outreach Facilitator
Minnesota E-rate Coordinator for Schools(651) 999-6510
11/21/2011
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Agenda
• Eligible Services • Equipment Transfers and Disposal • Beware of Geeks Bearing Gifts • CIPA• E-Rate Website Tools – Cindy Olson, ARCC
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Things to Remember – Eligible Services
• Telecommunications services can only be provided by an eligible telecommunications carrier
• Telecommunications can be provided by non-telecommunications carriers on fiber in whole or in part
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Leased Dark Fiber
• Leased dark fiber is not breakfast cereal coated in chocolate
• Leased dark fiber is Priority 1 • Added in Fund Year 11 • On Form 470 file for both Telecommunications and
Internet Access • On Form 471 select the Telecommunications check
box if provided by a telecommunications carrier • Otherwise select Internet access check box
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Leased Dark Fiber (continued)
• Dark fiber MUST be lit immediately • Does NOT allow for unneeded capacity or
warehoused dark fiber for future use • Maintenance cost and installation costs to hook
it up are eligible – within property line • Modulating electronics are not eligible • Installation costs between eligible buildings not
crossing a pubic right of way are Internal Connections
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Equipment Transfers & Disposal
• Equipment cannot be transferred for money or anything else of value, like goats
• No-cost transfer may occur three years or more after purchase to other eligible entities
• No transfer may be made prior to three years unless an eligible facility is closing
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Equipment Transfer – What to do?
• If less than 3 years notify USAC • Retain records of the transaction • Keep records for five years after the date of
the transfer• Records for equipment under 3 years follow
traditional e-rate document retention requirements
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Equipment Disposal
• Only five years after installation• Resale is allowable but not sooner than five
years after installation• Resale or disposal is prohibited before five
years • Trade-ins or exchanges OK after five years • Equipment not funded through E-rate – follow
local regulations
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Gifts
• For more detail see the 43 slides USAC has prepared on this subject at http://www.usac.org/sl/about/training-sessions/training-2011/fall/presentations.aspx
• Applies to anyone in a school district who touches the E-rate process
• Limited to $20 per time, $50 per year • Does not include gifts given as a result of a
personal friendship from non-company funds11/21/2011
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And more on gifts
• Allows for charitable contributions – if not directly or indirectly related to E-rate activities
• Gift rules apply all the time, not just during procurement cycles
• Do not solicit gifts • Do look gift horses in the mouth and do not
accept them if they are worth more than $20
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There’s more
• Charitable donations OK as long as they are not directly or indirectly related to E-rate procurement
• Are not given with purpose of circumventing E-rate rules
• Equipment OK in some cases – as long as it doesn’t require purchase of more E-rate services and serves educational purpose
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Oh no! They gave me a gift what do I do?
• Give it back or• Pay for it
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And yes, still more
• Raffle tickets or door prizes over $20 violate gift rules unless event is free of charge and open to the public
• Service providers can offer an educational discount on events as long as it is available to everyone in the school or library
• Widely attended events
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CIPA
• Amend existing Internet Safety/Acceptable Use policies to provide for education of minors about online behavior, Internet safety, and cyberbullying by July 1, 2012 – document it
• Internet Safety Policy – one public hearing – document it
• Internet Filter – make sure it is installed and working and you have paperwork to show purchase
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Questions?
Call USAC/SLD at 1-888-203-8100 And/or for general help, Contact Mary Mehsikomer
Minnesota E-Rate Coordinator - Schools(651) 999-6510 [email protected]
11/21/2011