E-Rate Overview From TDS

What’s included in this E-Rate overview: Quick summary Key steps in the process Timing Terms Contact information

Quick Summary E-Rate is a federal government program Provides about $2.25 billion annually to schools and libraries Makes telecommunications and Internet access more affordable Focus is grades K-12 Program provides reimbursements of up to 90% of eligible products/services

Who is Eligible? Public schools Private schools Charter schools Religious schools Military schools Headstart (in certain states)

Quick Summary - continued A funding year generally matches the school year – running from July 1 of one year through June 30 of the next year Key players –FCC (Federal Communications Commission) provides direction –USAC (Universal Service Administrative Company) administers the Universal Service Fund –SLD (Schools & Libraries Division) administers the E-Rate program

Quick Summary - continued Categories of Funding –Telecommunications –Internet Access –Internal Connections –Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections Telecommunications and Internet Access are Priority 1 Services, meaning they’re funded first Internal Connections and Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections are Priority 2 Services, funded after Priority 1

Key Steps in the Process Develop a Technology Plan (not required if you’re only applying for Telecommunications/Internet Priority 1 services) Post a Form 470 on the Schools and Libraries website (Services Sought - opens bidding) Go through the bidding process, then sign a contract with a vendor (if contracted service) File Form 471 (Services Ordered)

Key Steps… - continued SLD sends a Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) to you about how much they’ll fund File a Form 486 (Services Have Begun) SLD sends a 486 letter listing the approved amount

Key Steps… - continued TDS will send you an asking if you prefer reimbursement by check or on your bill If you want a check, file a BEAR/Form 472 for service you’ve already received and paid for –SLD will send the reimbursement to TDS, and TDS will send a check to you If you want reimbursement applied to your bill, please provide information as we request it via

Timing Form 470 (services sought) –Post between July and mid-February for the following school year (exact dates vary – refer to SLD website) Form 471 (services ordered) - During filing “Window” – typically from December until mid-March Form 486 (services have begun) - Between July 1 of new funding year and deadline Form 472/BEAR – It’s your choice how often you wish to file the form for reimbursement by check

Terms Funding Request Number – FRN –SLD assigns a number to each separate request for service, for each funding year –If you contact TDS to ask an E-Rate question about your service, it’s helpful to provide the FRN so we can quickly access information for you

Terms - continued SPIN – Service Provider Identification Number –A unique number assigned by SLD to each vendor participating in the E-Rate program –If you need a SPIN for a form, contact TDS E-Rate Customer Care (see contact info at end of this presentation) SPIN Change – a process an applicant follows to change from one service provider to another during a funding year

Terms - continued Billed Entity Number (BEN) – a unique number USAC assigns to each school and library for the E-Rate program Pre-discounted Amount – the estimated total cost of a product/service, before any E-Rate reimbursements are applied Funding Commitment Decision Letter – notification from SLD of approved E-Rate funding

Terms - continued Eligible Services –The SLD website includes a list of products and services that are eligible for E-Rate funding –Eligibility may depend on configuration, or how the service is used –FCC rules determine what’s eligible

Where to Go For Help – TDS Customer Care Phone (toll free) FAX (toll free) Websites and

Where to Go For Help – Schools & Libraries Hotline (push “0” for a representative) Website