Intro Jeannene Hurley Michigan Department of Education 2006, Year 9 Funding Year

Overview Form 471 Application Filing Window Issues that affect window for FY2006 Release of final Eligible Services List by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Special Katrina window Applicants – File Form 470 now Receipt of recurring services July 1 – June 30 (12 months) Receipt of non-recurring services July 1 – September 30 (15 months) 2

Eligibility Applicants Educational Purposes Activities that occur on library or school property are presumed to be integral, immediate, and proximate to the education of students or the provision of library services to library patrons and therefore qualify as educational purposes. Customary work activities of employees of a school or library are presumed to fall under the definition of education purposes. 3

Eligibility Applicants SCHOOLS: Administrative buildings School bus barns and garages Cafeteria offices Facilities associated with athletic activities LIBRARIES: Administrative buildings Bookmobile garages Interlibrary loan facilities Library technology centers 4 Examples of Non-instructional Facilities (NIFs) that can receive Priority 1 services

Technology Planning Applicants Technology Plans Not required for basic telephone service Must be written before Form 470 filing Must be approved by a certified approver before the Form 486 is filed or discounted services start, whichever is earlier Must cover all 12 months (or all months of service) Must cover five specific elements 5

Competitive Bidding / 470 Applicants Filing Form 470 opens a competitive bidding process. Can also issue a Request for Proposals (RFP). Applicants are responsible for ensuring an open and fair process and selecting the most cost-effective provider of the desired services. 6

Competitive Bidding / 470 Applicant Tips Applicant Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) Will be issued by secure mailer to all authorized persons on FY2005 Forms 470, 471 and 486. Will be automatically issued to any new authorized persons filing FY2006 Forms 470, 471 and 486. After accepting Terms and Conditions, can be used immediately to certify online. 7

Calculating Discounts Applicants Discounts are calculated using Percentage of students eligible for National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Urban or rural status of county in which school or library is located (from web site) These two pieces of information are carried into the Discount Matrix 8

Funding Requests / 471 Applicants Form 471 Provides specific information on services, service providers selected, and contracts Provides discount calculation information Must be filed for each funding year Contains certifications of compliance Includes one or more funding requests 9

Funding Requests / 471 Applicants Contracts Applicants and service providers must sign contracts for services that are not provided under tariff or under month-to-month arrangements Contracts can cover more than one year or contain extensions, but applicant must indicate these options in the Form

Funding Requests / 471 Applicants State Master Contracts If the state filed a Form 470, then the applicant can cite the state’s Form 470 on its Form 471 Funding Request. If the applicant filed a Form 470, the applicant can consider a state master contract as one of the bids, and can choose it as the winning bid if it is the most cost- effective solution. The state master contract can meet the FCC requirements for a signed contract. 11

Funding Requests / 471 Applicant Tips Don’t combine Priority 1 and Priority 2 requests on the same Form 471. Review of Priority 2 requests may hold up Priority 1 commitments. File (and certify) online Reduces errors and speeds processing USAC will issue you a PIN after successful certification of your Form 471 if you do not already have one. 12

Funding Requests / 471 Applicant Tips Block 4 Upload The feature itself will not be available until window opening, but the file spec will be made available at least three weeks prior to that. You'll build a separate file for each worksheet of the Block 4. 13

Funding Requests / 471 Applicant Tips Item 21 Online Submission 14

Application Review Applicants Forms 471 are reviewed by Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) for compliance with program rules concerning areas such as: Competitive bidding process Contracts Discount calculation Sufficient budget Establishing Form 470 Technology plan Children’s Internet Protection Act 15

Funding Commitments Both Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) Cover page of important reminders Reports status of individual funding requests: Funded Not funded As yet unfunded (Priority 2 requests) Service provider does not receive this status Cancelled May receive more than one FCDL 16

Starting Services / 486 Applicants Form 486 Notifies USAC that services have started and invoices can be paid Certifies that Tech Plan (if required) meets program requirements. Certifies the status under Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Lead members of consortia may be required to collect CIPA certifications from consortium members on a separate form (Form 479). 17

Starting Services Both Obligation to Pay Non-discount Share Applicants are required to pay their share of the cost (the “non-discount” portion or share) — this share cannot be donated, forgiven or ignored. Service providers cannot waive or credit the applicant’s share. Offers to reduce price must be incorporated into the “total pre-discount amount.” Service provider must bill the applicant for non-discount share of services. 18

Invoicing / 472 or 474 Both BEAR (Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement) Form 472 is filed by the applicant and certified by the service provider after the applicant receives services and pays for the services in full. SPI (Service Provider Invoice) Form 474 is filed by the service provider after providing services and billing the applicant for its non-discount share. 19

Invoicing / 472 or 474 Both Quarterly Disbursement Report Sent only to applicants Authorized person Billed Entity (BEN) address. Contains all invoice (Form 472 and Form 474) payment authorization amounts for the Billed Entity for all funding years approved during that quarter. 20

Appeals Both USAC decisions can be appealed to USAC or to the FCC. Generally, appeal first to USAC. Can appeal to the FCC if USAC does not grant the appeal. Can be filed electronically or on paper. Must be filed electronically or postmarked within 60 days of the USAC decision. Requests for waivers of rules must be filed with the FCC. 21

General Tips Both If you submit something to USAC: Check your work Sign and date it (online or on paper) Submit it by the deadline Keep a copy and proof of submission If USAC sends something to you: Read it Take all appropriate actions Save it 22

Assistance Both Schools and Libraries / USAC web site Client Service Bureau Use the “Submit a Question” link on the web site Fax toll-free at Telephone toll-free at Form instructions 23

Questions? 24