THE ABCs OF ERATE

1
THE ABCs OF E-RATE

• John Noran
• Schools and Libraries Division
• Universal Service Administrative Company
• Washington Chicago Los
  Angeles Newark
• Sept. 30, 2005 Oct. 6, 2005 Oct. 11,
  2005 Oct. 21, 2005

2
Overview

• Schools and Libraries Program
• Provides discounts to eligible schools and
  libraries for Telecommunications Services,
  Internet Access, Internal Connections, and Basic
  Maintenance
• Applicants can be schools, libraries, or
  consortia, but only eligible recipients of
  service can receive discounts
• Applicants must apply for discounts each year
  (Form 471 application filing window)
• Funding cap each year is 2.25 billion

2
3
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)

3
4
Overview

• The ABCs of E-rate
• Covers each step of the application process for
  applicants and service providers
• Dos and Donts slides contain program rules
• Tips slides contain suggestions that may help
  applicants and service providers complete the
  application process successfully.

4
5
Overview

• Application process
• Eligibility
• Technology planning
• Competitive bidding / Form 470
• Calculating discounts
• Funding requests / Form 471
• Application review / Funding commitments
• Starting services / Form 486
• Invoicing USAC / Form 472 or Form 474

5
6
Overview

• Forms and Letters for Applicants
• Technology plan
• Form 470
• Receipt Notification Letter (RNL)
• Form 471
• Receipt Acknowledgment Letter (RAL)
• Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL)
• Form 486
• Form 486 Notification Letter (486NL)
• Form 472 or Form 474
• BEAR Notification Letter Form 472 only
• Quarterly Disbursement Report

6
7
Overview

• Forms and Letters for Providers
• Form 498
• Notification by e-mail
• Form 499-A
• Notification by e-mail or telephone
• Receipt Acknowledgment Letter (RAL)
• Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL)
• Form 473
• Form 486 Notification Letter (486NL)
• Form 472 or Form 474
• BEAR Notification Letter / Invoice Status Report
• Electronic notification

7
8
EligibilityApplicants

• Eligible Entities - Schools
• Must meet the statutory definition of elementary
  or secondary school found in the No Child Left
  Behind Act of 2001.
• Must be a non-profit institutional day or
  residential school, including a public charter
  school, that provides elementary or secondary
  education, as determined under state law.
• Must not be operating as a for-profit business.
• Must not have an endowment exceeding 50 million.

8
9
EligibilityApplicants

• Eligible Entities - Schools
• Pre-kindergarten, Adult Education, Juvenile
  Justice students/facilities may be eligible.
• Must provide elementary or secondary education as
  determined under state law.
• USAC requests updated eligibility information
  from state departments of education every two
  years.

9
10
EligibilityApplicants

• Eligible Entities - Libraries
• Must meet the statutory definition of library or
  library consortium in the Library Services and
  Technology Act (LSTA) of 1996.
• Must be eligible for assistance from a state
  library administrative agency under LSTA.
• Budget must be completely separate from that of
  any schools.
• Must not be operating as for-profit businesses.

10
11
EligibilityApplicants

• Consortia
• Eligible schools and/or libraries may form
  consortia with
• Other eligible schools and/or libraries
• Certain health care providers
• Public sector (governmental) entities
• Only eligible entities can receive discounts

11
12
Eligible ServicesBoth

• Priority 1 funded first
• Telecommunications Services
• Basic telephone service wireline or wireless
  phone service (local, cellular/PCS, and/or long
  distance)
• Voice mail
• Transmission services (T-1, DSL)
• Internet Access
• Basic conduit access to the Internet

12
13
Eligible ServicesBoth

• Priority 2
• Internal Connections (switches, hubs, routers,
  wiring)
• Basic Maintenance on Internal Connections
• Priority 1 funded first, then Priority 2 begins
  with neediest applicants (90 first, then 89,
  88, etc.).
• Internal Connections funded in only two out of
  five funding years.

13
14
EligibilityApplicants

• 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.

14
15
EligibilityApplicants

• Examples of Non-instructional Facilities (NIFs)
  that can receive Priority 1 services

• 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

15
16
EligibilityApplicants

• Educational Purposes Priority 1
• Wireless Telecommunications Services used offsite
  may be eligible. For example,
• School bus drivers delivering children to and
  from school
• Library staff providing library services on a
  librarys mobile library unit van
• Teachers or other school staff accompanying
  students on a field trip or sporting event.

16
17
EligibilityApplicants

• Educational Purposes Priority 2
• Priority 2 services to NIFs are NOT eligible
  unless those internal connections are essential
  for the effective transport of information to an
  instructional building of a school or to a
  non-administrative building of a library.

17
18
EligibilityService Providers

• Service Providers
• Must file Form 498, Service Provider Information
  Form
• Request a Service Provider Identification Number
  (SPIN)
• Provide/update contact information.
• Must file Form 473, Service Provider Annual
  Certification (SPAC) Form
• Required for invoices that reference that Funding
  Year to be paid.

18
19
EligibilityService Providers

• Providers of Telecommunications Services must be
  authorized as Telecommunications Carriers
• Must contribute to the Universal Service Fund, if
  applicable.
• Must provide telecommunications services on a
  common carriage basis to be deemed a
  Telecommunications Carrier.

19
20
EligibilityService Providers

• Telecommunications Carriers must
• (1) allow the customer to transmit information of
  its own design and choosing, without change in
  the form or content of the information, and
• (2) provide that capability for a fee directly to
  the public, or to such classes of users as to be
  effectively available to the public (i.e., hold
  itself out to serve indifferently all potential
  users).

20
21
EligibilityService Provider Tips

• Keep contact information updated by filing
  revisions to Form 498
• USAC web site SPIN Search reflects information
  from Form 498 Block 11
• Designate individual program contacts if new or
  changed
• Telecommunications Carriers provide Form 499
  Filer ID

21
22
Technology PlanningApplicants

• 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

22
23
Technology PlanningApplicants

• Technology Plans
• Must cover five specific elements
• Goals / Strategies for using technology
• Professional development
• Needs assessment
• Sufficient budget
• Evaluation process

23
24
Technology PlanningApplicant Dos and Donts

• DO write your technology plan before submitting
  your Form 470.
• DO make sure your technology plan covers and is
  approved for the entire period (usually 12
  months) that discounted services will be
  delivered.
• DO make sure that your technology plan approver
  is certified by USAC.
• DO verify that your certified approval is dated
  before services begin and before your Form 486 is
  filed.
• DO verify that your plan contains all five
  required elements.

24
25
Technology PlanningApplicant Tips

• Use each required area as a heading in your plan
  and address that area under the heading.
• PRINT A COPY of your certified approval for your
  records.
• Make sure your technology plan is approved for
  the entire period (usually 12 months) that
  discounted services will be delivered.
• Prepare a technology plan if any of your services
  fall outside of basic telephone service (such as
  Centrex, PBX, T-1).

25
26
Technology PlanningService Provider Tips

• Refer applicants with questions on technology
  planning to neutral, third-party sources of
  information such as state web sites.
• Avoid giving applicants direct advice on
  technology planning, especially targeted advice
  on services you provide.
• If you offer assistance, make sure it is neutral
  technical advice.

26
27
Competitive Bidding / 470Applicants

• 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.

27
28
Competitive Bidding / 470Applicants

• Request for Proposal (RFP)
• Not required under FCC rules, but a good idea
• Must comply with local and state procurement laws
• Describes your project scope, location, other
  requirements in detail
• Even if you have an RFP, you must describe the
  services you desire on your Form 470.

28
29
Competitive Bidding / 470Applicants

• Competition
• Goal is to have as many bidders as possible
• Promotes better service and lower prices
• Fair and open process
• All bidders treated the same
• No advance knowledge of RFP information
• No secrets in the process
• All bidders know what is required of them.

29
30
Competitive Bidding / 470Applicants

• Form 470 Deadline
• Absolute deadline is 28 days before the close of
  the Form 471 filing window.
• However, if the applicant waits until that date
  to file a Form 470, the following must all occur
  on the last day of the window
• Selecting a service provider
• Signing a contract
• Signing, dating and submitting Form 471.

30
31
Competitive Bidding / 470Applicants

• Selecting service providers
• Applicants must choose the most cost-effective
  solution to their Form 470 or RFP, with price as
  the primary factor
• Other factors can be considered, but price must
  be the most heavily weighted.
• Evaluation process should be carefully documented
  and that documentation must be maintained.

31
32
Competitive Bidding / 470Service Providers

• Responding to Form 470 / RFP
• Download Forms 470 two options for searching
  applicant requests
• Search Posted
• Must choose Funding Year
• Can then select other criteria
• Download Reports
• Must choose Funding Year
• One to five days ago or cumulative
• Delimited files

32
33
Competitive Bidding / 470Applicant Dos and
Donts

• DO run an open and fair competitive bidding
  process.
• DO wait at least 28 days before selecting your
  service provider.
• DO certify your Form 470 promptly.
• DO indicate a multi-year contract or contract
  with extensions if appropriate.

33
34
Competitive Bidding / 470Applicant Dos and
Donts

• DO list services sought in the correct category
  of service.
• If USAC moves your request to another category of
  service, your Form 470 must have featured that
  category of service.
• DO use price as the primary factor when selecting
  the most cost-effective solution

34
35
Competitive Bidding / 470Applicant Tips

• Retain worksheets, bid evaluation criteria,
  winning AND LOSING bids
• Prepare a memo to file if you received only one
  bid or no bids
• File (and certify) online
• Reduces errors and speeds processing
• USAC will issue you a PIN after successful
  certification of your Form 470 if you do not
  already have one.

35
36
Competitive Bidding / 470Applicant 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.

36
37
Competitive Bidding / 470Service Provider Dos
and Donts

• DO NOT complete, sign, or file the Form 470.
• DO NOT prepare or be involved in the preparation
  of the RFP.
• DO remain neutral at all times during the
  applicants competitive bidding process.

37
38
Competitive Bidding / 470Service Provider Tips

• Service providers may contribute information on
  technical issues.
• Service providers may provide basic program
  information such as timelines and deadlines.

38
39
Competitive Bidding / 470Applicants

• Form 470 Receipt Notification Letter (RNL)
• Cover page of important reminders
• Notifies applicant that Form 470 has been posted
  to the USAC web site
• RNL generated before certification
• Contains Allowable Vendor Selection / Contract
  Date

39
40
Calculating DiscountsApplicants

• 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

40
41
Calculating DiscountsApplicants
Discount Matrix
41
42
Calculating DiscountsApplicants

• Calculation for individual school
• Percentage of students eligible for NSLP for
  individual school
• Urban/Rural status
• Find discount from Discount Matrix

42
43
Calculating DiscountsApplicants

• Calculation for school district
• Determine discount for each individual school in
  the school district
• Calculate the weighted average of the discounts
  for all schools in the district
• Discounts of individual schools with more
  students will be weighted more heavily

43
44
Calculating DiscountsApplicants

• Calculation for library outlet/branch
• Percentage of students eligible for NSLP in the
  school district in which the library
  outlet/branch is located
• Urban/Rural status
• Find discount from Discount Matrix

44
45
Calculating DiscountsApplicants

• Calculation for library system
• Determine discount for each individual
  outlet/branch in the library system
• Calculate the simple average of the discounts for
  all outlets/branches in the library system

45
46
Calculating DiscountsApplicants

• Calculation for consortium
• Determine the discount for each consortium member
• Calculate the simple average of the discounts of
  all consortium members

46
47
Calculating DiscountsApplicants

• Non-instructional facilities (NIFs) are eligible
  for their school district or library system
  discount
• Online - calculate school district or library
  system discount, then enter that discount for
  each NIF (non-matrix discount)
• School NIFs with classroom(s) calculate as with
  individual schools using the student count in the
  classroom(s)

47
48
Calculating DiscountsApplicants

• Schools with transient populations
• Take a snapshot of the student population on a
  specific day
• Report the NSLP eligibility of that student
  population
• RETAIN DETAILED DOCUMENTATION OF YOUR CALCULATION

48
49
Calculating DiscountsApplicants

• Alternative Discount Mechanisms for determining
  student NSLP eligibility
• Must be based on income family units whose
  income is at or below 185 of the federal poverty
  guidelines (Income Eligibility Guidelines)
• Must be collected from a survey or from existing
  sources
• Must tie to individual students (with one
  exception, projections are not allowed)

49
50
Calculating DiscountsApplicants

• Examples of Alternative Discount Mechanisms
• Participation in food stamps, Supplementary
  Security Income, Federal public housing
  assistance, Low Income Home Energy Assistance
  Program
• Existing sources that are based on federal
  poverty guidelines
• Matching siblings

50
51
Funding Requests / 471Applicants

• 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

51
52
Funding Requests / 471Applicants

• Form 471 Deadline
• Must be filed online or postmarked on or before
  the close of the Form 471 application filing
  window.
• Forms 471 filed after the close of the window
  will be considered after all Forms 471 filed
  in-window.
• Certifications for associated Forms 470 also must
  be filed online or postmarked before the close of
  the window.

52
53
Funding Requests / 471Applicants

• 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 470

53
54
Funding Requests / 471Applicants

• State Master Contracts
• If the state filed a Form 470, then the applicant
  can cite the states 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.

54
55
Funding Requests / 471 Applicant Dos and Donts

• WAIT AT LEAST 28 DAYS BEFORE
• Selecting a service provider
• Signing a contract
• Signing and dating the Form 471
• Submitting the Form 471
• These actions must occur in this order.
• Refer to 470 RNL for allowable date.
• Both applicants and service providers must sign
  and date all contracts.

55
56
Funding Requests / 471 Applicant Tips

• Remove ineligible costs from funding requests
• Document ineligible costs carefully
• 30 rule if 30 or more of the dollar value of
  the request is for ineligible products and
  services, the entire request will be denied
• Work with your service provider(s) to create your
  Item 21 attachment(s)

56
57
Funding Requests / 471 Applicant Tips

• Enter recurring and non-recurring costs carefully
  in the cost summary of each Funding Request
• Recurring costs ALWAYS must be received by June
  30 of the Funding Year.
• Non-recurring costs must be received by September
  30 following the Funding Year, and this deadline
  can be extended under certain circumstances

57
58
Funding Requests / 471 Applicant Tips

• Dont 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.

58
59
Funding Requests / 471 Service Provider Dos and
Donts

• DO work with applicants to separate pricing for
  eligible services from pricing for ineligible
  services.
• DO sign and date any contracts with your
  applicants.
• DO comply with state contract law and state and
  local procurement laws.
• DO work with applicants to choose the method of
  payment discounts (Form 474) or reimbursements
  (Form 472).

59
60
Funding Requests / 471 Service Provider Tips

• Offer to work with applicants to help create
  their Item 21 attachments and ask for a copy of
  the final submission.
• Provide correct SPINs, contact information,
  billing account numbers, and other information.
• Update contact information by filing a revised
  Form 498.
• File Form 473 now to avoid invoicing problems
  later.

60
61
Funding Requests / 471Both

• Form 471 Receipt Acknowledgment Letter (RAL)
• Cover page of important reminders
• Provides confirmation of certain information
  entered from Form 471
• Data entry errors may be corrected within three
  weeks by using the RAL (including Block 4
  worksheets)
• Applicants can request funding reductions but not
  funding increases

61
62
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
• Childrens Internet Protection Act

62
63
Application Review Applicant Tips

• Provide information to PIA promptly
• Work with your service provider to comply with
  information requests.
• Make sure your answers respond completely to the
  questions asked.
• Ask for more time to respond if you need it.
• However, if you ask for more time, your PIA
  representative will work on other applications
  and you may wait longer for a decision.
• Check the 471 Application Status Tool.

63
64
Application ReviewService Provider Tips

• You can assist applicants in responding to
  requests for information, especially on technical
  issues, but not with questions on the competitive
  bidding process.
• Communicate through the applicant or copy the
  applicant on any responses to PIA.
• Check the 471 Application Status Tool.

64
65
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

65
66
Funding CommitmentsApplicant Tips

• Check all entries on the FCDL carefully to make
  sure there are no data entry errors.
• Use the information on the FCDL to prepare your
  Form 486.

66
67
Starting Services / 486Applicants

• 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 Childrens Internet
  Protection Act (CIPA).
• Lead members of consortia may be required to
  collect CIPA certifications from consortium
  members on a separate form (Form 479).

67
68
Starting Services / 486Applicants

• Childrens Internet Protection Act
• Applicants must certify compliance with
  requirements
• Internet safety policy
• Public notice or meeting
• Technology protection measure (filter)
• CIPA does not apply to Telecommuni-cations
  Services, but applicant must still certify that
  it receives only those services

68
69
Starting Services / 486Applicants

• Form 486 Deadline
• Form 486 must be filed online or postmarked no
  later than
• 120 days after the Service Start Date OR
• 120 days after the date of the FCDL
• whichever is later.
• If the Form 486 is late, the date 120 days before
  the Form 486 online filing or postmark date will
  become the start date for discounted services and
  funding may be reduced.

69
70
Starting Services / 486Both

• Form 486 Service Start Date
• USAC may adjust the Service Start Date in order
  to comply with program rules
• Form 486 filed after the deadline
• Technology plan approval issues
• CIPA compliance issues
• Conflict with Form 470 allowable contract date
• The adjusted date is the earliest date that
  discounted services may be provided.
• Invoices for services provided before that date
  will not be paid.

70
71
Starting Services / 486Both

• Form 486 Service Start Date
• Cannot be before July 1 of the funding year.
• Can be as early as the date that the service
  provider ships the product to the applicant or
  earlier, depending on the arrangements between
  the applicant and the service provider and/or
  the terms of the contract.

71
72
Starting Services / 486 Both

• Form 486 Notification Letter (486NL)
• Cover page of important reminders
• Provides confirmation that a Form 486 has been
  successfully data entered.
• Reports Service Start Date or Adjusted Service
  Start Date
• USAC will accept invoices from applicants (Form
  472) or service providers (Form 474) once the
  Form 486 is certified.

72
73
Starting Services / 486Applicant Tips

• VERIFY THE SERVICE START DATE YOU REPORT.
• Also verify any adjustment on the 486NL.
• Work with your service provider to file your Form
  486 so that neither you nor the service provider
  is disadvantaged.
• Initiate an Invoice Check if you want to monitor
  the invoices (Forms 474) your service provider
  sends to USAC.

73
74
Starting Services / 486Service Provider Tips

• VERIFY THE (ADJUSTED) SERVICE START DATE ON THE
  486NL.
• Invoices dated before that date will not be paid.
• Invoices for services provided before that date
  will not be paid.
• Work with your applicant to file your Form 486 so
  that neither you nor the applicant is
  disadvantaged.

74
75
Starting ServicesService Providers

• Form 473 Service Provider Annual Certification
  (SPAC) Form
• Service providers are required to file on an
  annual basis.
• USAC will only pay invoices for a funding year if
  a SPAC is on file for that year.
• SPACs are required for both BEARs and SPIs.
• SPIN Search Tool lists funding years for which a
  SPAC is on file.

75
76
Starting ServicesBoth

• 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
  applicants 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.

76
77
Starting ServicesBoth

• Service delivery deadlines
• Recurring Services (June 30)
• Non-recurring Services (September 30)
• Deadline automatically extended to September 30
  of the following year for FCDLs, service
  substitution approvals, and SPIN change approvals
  dated on or after March 1 of the funding year.
• Applicants can also request extensions for
  specific reasons involving difficulties with
  delivery of services by service provider.

77
78
Invoicing / 472 or 474Both

• 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.

78
79
Invoicing / 472 or 474Applicant Dos and Donts

• Form 472 (BEAR Form)
• DO verify that your service provider has signed
  the last page of the form before you submit it.
• DO check your calculations.
• Make sure you have service provider bills that
  agree with your reimbursement request.
• Form 474 (SPI Form)
• DO make sure you have paid your non-discount
  share.

79
80
Invoicing / 472 or 474Service Provider Dos and
Donts

• Form 474 (SPI Form)
• DO check your calculations.
• DO NOT use Form 474 to request a service
  substitution.
• Form 472 (BEAR Form)
• DO reimburse your applicant within 20 days of
  receiving payment from USAC.

80
81
Invoicing / 472 or 474Both

• Invoicing deadlines
• Form 472 or 474 must be filed online or
  postmarked no later than
• 120 days after the last date to receive service
  OR
• 120 days after the date of the 486 NL
• whichever is later.
• If the invoice is late, payment will be denied.
• Extensions of invoicing deadlines may be
  requested under certain conditions.

81
82
Invoicing / 472 or 474 Both

• BEAR Notification Letter
• Cover page of important reminders
• Provides confirmation that a Form 472 has been
  successfully data entered.
• Indicates what amounts are being paid and reasons
  for reductions or denials.
• Invoice Status Report / E-notification
• Indicates what amounts are being paid and reasons
  for reductions or denials.
• Sent only to service providers.

82
83
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.

83
84
AppealsBoth

• 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.

84
85
General TipsBoth

• 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

85
86
AssistanceBoth

• Schools and Libraries / USAC web site
• Client Service Bureau
• Use the Submit a Question link on the web site
• Fax toll-free at 1-888-276-8736
• Telephone toll-free at 1-888-203-8100
• Form instructions

86
87
Questions?
87