Year 2 E-rate Funds Remain -- Must Apply Now
Message Posted March 8, 2000
* * * Important * * *
Last week I forwarded an e-mail from the SLD concerning some remaining Year
2 E-rate funds that were described at less than $250 million and would only
go to those applicants that filed immediately following the close of the
Year 2 window.
Well, I just returned from an E-rate meeting in D.C. where
they stated the message was worded inaccurately and that in fact, EVERYONE
WHO SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION OUTSIDE THE YEAR 2 WINDOW THROUGH MARCH 1 WILL
BE FUNDED ENTIRELY. And there is ANOTHER $250 million remaining. This
message outlines how and why most of you should apply for the remaining
funds. Please read it carefully.
If you have purchased or would still like to purchase before June 30, 2000
any E-rate eligible service, but previously didn't submit a 471 requesting
discounts on that service or component -- you should do so NOW. Even if you
submitted a 471 and it was denied for some reason, you should resubmit it.
All 471 applications for these funds must use Year 2 Form 471 Applications
at: http://www.sl.universalservice.org/Download/471.pdf (Year 3 applications
will NOT be accepted). All applications must be filed manually to the
address listed below by March 31, 2000.
All 471 applications must be based on a valid previously posted 470. If you
did not submit any 470s in Year 2, you may still apply for this remaining
money if you can purchase or have purchased anything from the PEPPM list
(www.peppm.org) because a 470 already was posted for this contract last
year. Because there is less than 28 days remaining to apply for these
funds, it is too late to submit a new 470 application now. At the end of
this message there are detailed instructions on what dates and numbers you
should put on your 471 if you have purchased or will be purchasing anything
from PEPPM before June 30, 2000.
All of the applications that are received between March 2 and March 31, 2000
will be reviewed after all Year 3 funding commitments are made (which means
you won't actually get a Year 2 out of window funding commitment letter
until August or September), and the funds will be disbursed based on the
following priorities:
* The highest priority will be given to Funding Requests (that is,
individual Funding Request Numbers (FRNs) even if they are on applications
with other FRNs at lower discount percentages) at the 80-90% discount level,
where the applicant did not receive discounts for Year 1 or Year 2 and/or
where the applicant received discounts only for basic telephone service in
prior applications for Year 1 or Year 2;
* The next highest priority will be given to Funding Requests at the
80-90% discount level, where the applicant received discounts for any
eligible service in prior applications for Year 1 or Year 2;
* Final priority will be given to all other Funding Requests and
applications received between March 2, 2000 and March 31, 2000 on a
first-come, first-served basis.
Because funding commitments will be issued after the funding year
has ended, the FCC will be issuing rules extending the amount of time that
applicants have to spend the new funds. The answers you place on your 471
should not anticipate this extension (therefore don't put an expiration date
of later than 6/30/2000).
If you have purchased or would like to purchase any E-rate eligible
item from the PEPPM contract, use the following information:
Item 7 Purpose of Request. Check 7a, as well as the "yes" box under 7a.
For all purchases based on other 470's, you will probably check 7b.
Item 15 or 16.
Column (2) IMPORTANT! You must enter the following Universal Service Control
Number in this column for any E-Rate eligible PEPPM Purchases for the
1999-2000 funding year: 865370000116660. If you are basing your 471 on a
different 470 but can't recall the USCN number, you can search for it posted
on the SLD web site at: http://www.sl.universalservice.org/forms/search.asp
Column (3) Leave this column blank.
Column (4) List the date that the purchase agreement or contract was signed
between YOU and the service provider. Please note that this date must be
between 01/09/1999 and the date you mail in your 471.
Column (5) List the date that your contract will expire, probably
06/30/2000.
Column (7) List the service start date for your contract. This date must be
between July 1, 1999 and June 30, 2000 because this is the year for which
you are applying for discounts.
Actual text of revised SLD message:
The Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service
Administrative Company (USAC), in its role as Fund Administrator, announces
that it will consider applications for Year 2 (July 1, 1999 - June 30, 2000)
that were received by SLD after April 6, 1999 and before March 2, 2000.
These applications will be considered after SLD issues the last wave of
funding commitments on Year 3 applications that were received within the
Year 3 window (between November 10, 1999 and January 19, 2000).
We expect that we will complete our review of in-the-window Year 3
applications by late May 2000. Depending on the volume of additional
applications for Year 2 we receive, we hope to be able to make commitments
on post-window Year 2 applications before the end of July. With respect to
recurring charges, they will have to have been for services delivered during
the period July 1, 1999 and June 30, 2000. The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) will determine whether to extend the funding year for
non-recurring charges, such as the installation of internal connections.
Further, SLD announces that after SLD makes commitments on applications
received by March 1, 2000, there will be about $250 million available for
additional funding requests for Year 2, and that SLD will continue to accept
Forms 471 for Year 2 funding requests for another 30 days, until 11:59 PM ET
on March 31, 2000. These Forms 471 must be filed pursuant to an establishing
a Form 470 filed for Year 2 (i.e., after December 1, 1998) and the requisite
28-day waiting period. Consistent with FCC rules, applications received
between March 2, 2000 and March 31, 2000 will be considered in the order set
forth above. If remaining funds are insufficient to fully fund all approved
requests within any of the priority tiers, Funding Requests (or applications
in the last tier) will be considered in the order in which they were
received.
If you wish to file a FCC Form 471 (Services Ordered and Certification Form)
during this 30-day period, you must use a Year 2 form (i.e., dated December
1998). This form is available by downloading it from the SLD web site. It is
also available from the Client Service Bureau by calling 1-888-203-8100.
This form must be filed manually. When properly completed, it should be
mailed to:
SLD-Form 471 Year 2
P.O. Box 7026
Lawrence, Kansas 66044-7026
or sent by express delivery service or U.S. Postal Service, Return Receipt
Requested, to:
SLD-Form 471 Year 2
C/O Ms. Smith
3833 Greenway Drive
Lawrence, Kansas 66046
888-203-8100.
The new 30-day period will make it difficult, if not impossible, to file a
Form 470 to order new services, wait the required 28 days before signing
contracts, and then submit a Form 471 by the 30th day. However, if you wish
to try to file a Form 470 and a Form 471 during these 30 days, click HERE
<misc/addinsty2.asp> for further instructions.
Julie L. Tritt
Executive Policy Specialist
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street, 10th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126
(717) 705-4486
(717) 787-7222 - fax
jtritt@state.pa.us
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