E-rate Overview

By TDS

What’s included in this E-rate overview:

• Quick summary• Key steps in the process• Timing• Terms• Contact information

Quick Summary

• A 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

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 for Funding– Telecommunications– Internet Access– Internal Connections– Basic Maintenance on Internal Connections

• Telecommunications and Internet Access are Priority 1 Services, meaning they’re funded first

• Internal Connections and Basic Maintenance on Internal Connections are Priority 2 Services, funded after Priority 1

Key Steps in the Process

• Develop a Technology Plan (what you want funded and how you’ll use it to improve education)

• Post a Form 470 on the Schools and Libraries Web site (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 email 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 reimbursment applied to your bill, please provide information as we request it

Timing

• Form 470 (services sought)– Post between May and early January for the following school

year (exact dates vary – refer to SLD Web site)

• Form 471 (services ordered) - During filing “Window” – typically from early November until early February

• 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, 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, 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 about the amount of E-rate funding approved

Terms - continued

• Eligible Services

– The SLD Web site 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 888-846-6586 (toll free)

• FAX 888-837-0022 (toll free)

• Email erateupdates@tdstelecom.com

• Web site www.e-rate.tdstelecom.com

Where to Go For Help –Schools & Libraries

• Hotline 888-203-8100 (push “0” for a representative)

• Web site www.usac.org/sl