School Connectivity: E-Rate Services Team E-Rate Modernization and School Connectivity - for Local Education Agencies School Connectivity: E-Rate Services Team

What? …provides discounts of up to 90 percent to help eligible schools and libraries in the United States obtain affordable telecommunications and internet access. What is E-rate?

Why? Digital Teaching and Learning Legislation Plan Infrastructure E-rate Discuss DTL plan and how it interfaces with Infrastructure (SCI)

Who? Tech Director/CTO YOU Board of Education DPI Resources Vendor(s) Roles of each of the Charter and responsibilities

School Connectivity Initiative How? School Connectivity Initiative

SCI NC Department of Public Instruction e-NC Authority NC. Office of Information Technology Services Friday Institute MCNC SCI history and the objectives of SCI

SCI Expand the number of schools with broadband Internet access Further develop communication networks for rural and underperforming schools Aid in professional development Develop a scalable model to maintain and enhance network services to all schools in North Carolina.  E-Rate makes it possible for SCI to leverage state and local funding

“High-speed broadband connections to schools and advanced Wi-Fi inside classrooms have become essential tools for teachers and students. A major conclusion of the FCC's recent modernization of the E-rate program is that local jurisdictions benefit substantially from state-level assistance in the design, procurement, and ongoing support of this complex communications infrastructure. In our nationwide review of state approaches, we found North Carolina's model to be one of the most effective in the country. State-level support in North Carolina not only with matching financial resources but also purchasing and technical expertise from a dedicated professional staff at the state level has had a major positive impact for schools across North Carolina that stands out as a leading national example.” Jon Wilkins Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Former Managing Director Federal Communications Commission NC is a ROLE MODEL for other states in school connectivity

Voice If your discount is… Then your voice discount will be: FY 2015 20% No Funding 25% 5% 40% 50% 30% 10% 60% 70% 80% 90% Ramping down of funding for voice services – and how charters need to plan ahead to meet funding needs

Internet Category 1 – Internet NCREN managed by MCNC State network Free, high speed Free content filtering and firewall Charter schools may file for WAN Funding from DPI through PRC 036 for Charters Category 1 – NCREN and LEA WAN – PRC 073 for LEA’s and PRC 036 for Charters

NCREN

Category 2 – Internal Connections State Contracts E-rate and SCI funds Allocation per ADM 5 years PRC 036 Category 2 planning – budgets and State Contracts

Filing for E-rate E-Rate Process

Procurement Records retention Procurement policies (state and local) Competitive Bidding Cost Effective Fair and Open Gift Rule Purchasing policies

Procurement Form 470/RFP Wait 28 days Public opening Evaluate with matrix Price #1 State and local policies Board approval, etc. E-Rate rules for procurement – fair and cost effective

Bid Evaluation Sample bid evaluation matrix

Billing Methods BEAR Or SPI BILLING BEAR or SPI – choosing discounted billing or paying in full and billing USAC for the discount -

BEAR Pay in full Reconciliation spreadsheet File 498 for reimbursement Obtain PIN from CSB File BEAR (Form 472) BEAR method

SPI Billing Pay only your discounted portion to service provider SP “bills” USAC for other portion No forms to file How to select this method? SPI billing

Direct Deposit! Form 472 (BEAR) CFO must have a role in EPC Reimbursements direct deposited to the applicant’s bank account CFO must have a role in EPC Form 498 completed by “School or Library Official” Communication is paramount! Filing Form 498

Data Needed Banking Information DUNS Bank Name Bank Routing Number Bank Account Number DUNS Dunn and Bradstreet Number Form 498 continued

498 Verification Bank verification Send to Voided check Information on bank letterhead Send to 498bankverification@usac.org

Support Jeannene Roxie Rebecca

Questions?