California Teleconnect Fund (CTF) Program

A Program Administered by theCalifornia Public Utilities

Commission

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What is CTF?

California Teleconnect Fund (CTF) is a state program, administered by the California Public Utilities Commission. The current budget for fiscal year 08-09 is $33.2 Million.

CTF discount applies on CTF-eligible services after applying the E-rate discount for schools and libraries.

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How is CTF funded?

Funded by all end users of telecommunications services by a surcharge on their phone bills.

For FY 08-09, surcharge rate is 0.13 percent. If your monthly bill for in-state service is $100, then the amount for CTF is 13 cents.

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Who are eligible for CTF discounts?

K-12 public and private schools having endowments of less than $50 million

Public libraries Municipal, County, or District-owned hospitals

and clinics Community Based Organizations – providing

hands-on health care, educational instructions, computer training, job training, or job placement

Consortia Community Colleges California Telehealth Network Participants Non-profit CBOs providing 2-1-1 Information and

Referral Services

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What currently are CTF-eligible services? Measured business line or its functional equivalent Switched 56 or its functional equivalent Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) or its

functional equivalent T-1 line DSL/Internet Service – Non-certificated and non-

registered carriers/Internet Service Providers/Broadband Providers may offer Internet access service through partnership with certificated/registered carriers with the Commission, pursuant to CPUC Decision 08-06-020.

OC 3 – OC 192 (fiber transfer that has a bandwidth of up to 1 Gbps)

Functional equivalents vary between service providers

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What charges are not discounted by CTF?

Installation/equipment or non-recurring charges are not discounted

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What are the charges/taxes/fees eligible for CTF discount?

Monthly recurring charge Company specific

surcharge/surcredit CPUC user fee - .11% Federal Excise Fee - 3% 911 Fee - .72% Local/City Tax – Varies by locality

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What are the taxes/surcharges/surcredits covered by the CTF Program?

The taxes and surcharges or surcredits covered by the CTF Program are based only on the approved CTF discount amounts.

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No resale or sharing of CTF discounted services

The CTF discount services cannot be resold to, or shared with, any other non-qualifying entity or person.

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CPUC Decision 08-06-020 R.06-05-028 – Rulemaking to Review the

Telecommunications Public Policy Programs (CTF, ULTS, DDTP, and Payphone)

D.08-06-020 was issued on June 12, 2008 to include, among other things, Internet access service, community colleges, non-profit 2-1-1 CBOs offering information and referral services, and California Telehealth Network participants as eligible for the CTF program. Internet access may be offered by ISPs/cable broadband service providers through partnership with certificated/registered carriers with the Commission.

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SB 1102 – PU Code Section 884.5 (Statewide Average is 70% for FY 08-09). For a complete list of statewide average discount, please visit:http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/Telco/Public+Programs/CTF/CTFList.htm

E-rate Discount Application - Five Categories:1) CTF participant with pending E-rate application – apply the statewide

average E-rate discount before applying the CTF discount. The E-rate and CTF discounts will be trued up to the effective date of the E-rate.

2) CTF participant that has not filed for E-rate – apply the current statewide average discount before applying the CTF discount.

3) CTF participant that applied for E-rate discount, but denied – 0% must be shown on the funding commitment letter. Apply the 50% CTF discount to CTF-eligible services.

4) CTF participant that is a necessary small school as defined in Section 42283 of the Education Code – apply the 50% discount to CTF-eligible services unless the customer presents the actual E-rate discount. In that case, apply the E-rate discount before applying the CTF discount.

5) CTF Participant that has been approved for E-rate for the entire fiscal year, but the dollar amount granted is not sufficient to cover all the CTF eligible services for the entire fiscal period. Apply the actual E-rate discount before applying the CTF discount.

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CTF Application Process CTF Application and guidelines can be downloaded from the CPUC

website at: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/static/telco/public+programs/ctf_faq.htm__

Steps:1. Applicant completes and mails the application to the CPUC.2. Communications Division (CD) reviews the application.3. CD sends the approval letter to the applicant.4. Applicant notifies the carrier within 30 days of the approval letter. 5. Customer informs carrier their approved application number.5. Carrier sends the applicant the discounted application form.6. Customer completes and mails the discounted application service form to the carrier.7. Carrier reviews the form and it may take at least 3-4 months for

the customer to see the credit on their bill.

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CTF Application Process

Ensure that the name, address, and California Department of Education’s (CDE) County-District-School (CDS) 14-digit code number are identical to the affidavit sent to you by the CDE. To check your records, visit www.cde.ca.gov

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Required Information:

A. Public School – California Department of Education’s (CDE) County-District-School (CDS) 14-digit code number and sponsoring district’s name.

B. Category 1: Private, Catholic School –1. CDE’s CDS 14-digit code number;2. Copy of 501(c)(3) IRS tax exempt status letter

addressed to the Assistant General Counsel, United States Conference, WA, D.C.;

3. Cover page copy of the Official Catholic Directory; and

4. Copy of the page in the directory listing the name of the church and/or school.

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Required Information:

C. Category 2: Private, Religious (other than Catholic)

1. California Department of Education’s County-District-School code number, and

2. 501(c)(3) IRS tax exempt status letter addressed directly to the school.

If the IRS tax exempt status letter was not addressed directly to the school, please submit the following:

1. Letter from the church stating that your school is the church’s subunit;

2. Copy of the church directory or similar directory cover page; and

3. Page in the directory listing the name of the church and/or school.

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Required Information:

D. Category 3: Private, Non-Religious School1. CDE’s CDS Code number; and2. 501(c)(3) IRS tax exempt status

letter addressed directly to the school.

C. Library – must be certificated by the California State Library.

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Community Colleges and California Telehealth Network Community Colleges – Provide the 3-digit

Management Information System Code on the application (revised application will be posted on 12/1/08)

California Telehealth Network (CTN) Participants – A government-owned hospital or health clinic or a non-profit hospital or health clinic applying as a community based organization, please check the box if you are a CTN participant.

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No need to re-apply for CTF discounts once approved. For new CTF customer, the effective date of the

CTF discounts will be the date the Communications Division date stamped your application, IF

You contact your telephone service provider (TSP) within 30 days of the approval letter, otherwise your CTF discount will be effective on the date of contact.

For existing CTF customer, the effective date of the CTF discount on additional CTF service will be the date you placed your order if you inform them that you are a CTF participant.

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Where to file the application?

California Public Utilities Commission Communications Division – CTF

Program505 Van Ness AvenueSan Francisco, CA 94102

For further questions or information, please contact:

Fe N. Lazaro at fnl@cpuc.ca.gov