May 1998 Announcements

Please click on the topic below to view the most recent announcements:

The Reference Area now features a SPIN Contact Search function. This database includes contact information for the correct person in each participating vendor’s organization who can provide Universal Service Fund applicants with that vendor’s SPIN, as required for Form 471 and the forthcoming Form 486. The database does not contain actual SPINs, because only the service providers themselves can provide SPINs to applicants at this time.

As you know, the Schools and Libraries Corporation received more than 30,000 Universal Service Fund applications within the 75-day window that ended April 15. Before funding commitments can be made on any of these applications, we must data enter and review all of them. We are moving as quickly as possible to accomplish this task and have committed additional resources to do so. But as you will see from the progress report that follows, we also need YOUR help in one crucial way: It is imperative that you regularly check your voice mail, faxes, and mail over the next six to eight weeks. If your school or library will be going into summer vacation, please make necessary arrangements for this coverage. If there is any problem or question regarding your application, we will not be able to complete the process unless we are able to reach you.

Here's a step-by-step progress report on the application review process.

Problem Resolution
All applications received during the 75-day window have now been logged into our tracking system and have been reviewed by the document analysis staff for obvious errors and incomplete information. Thousands of Problem Resolution faxes have gone out, and thousands more will be going out over the next week; applicants have 7 calendar days to respond with the requested information. In addition, our Problem Resolution Team will be contacting some applicants by telephone to correct their applications on the spot. If you have not yet been contacted by the Problem Resolution Team, you should be very sure to monitor your fax machine and voice mail over the next several weeks.

Program Integrity Assurance
Applications which have been data entered are subject to Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) review to ensure compliance with FCC rules. If your application is reviewed, you may receive a phone call from the PIA team requesting additional information or documentation within 7 calendar days. Again, you should make arrangements to regularly monitor your voice mail in the weeks ahead so you don’t miss a call from PIA. (The PIA Team will also be conducting post-funding audits throughout the year.)

Funding Commitment Letters
Once all applications have been processed through the PIA stage, funding commitment letters will be sent to all applicants identifying approval or disapproval of discounts for services on a line-item basis. The funding commitment letters will reflect final funding levels set by the FCC for the Universal Service Program for 1998 (see below).

Funding Levels for 1998
The FCC has proposed a funding level of $1.67 billion for 1998. After taking public comments through the end of this week, the FCC will announce its final decision on 1998 funding. In conjunction with the FCC's announcement, the SLC will release its procedures for allocating funds if final demand exceeds available funding. Please note that final demand will not be known until all applications have been completely processed.

Form 486 and Invoicing
Once you have received your funding commitment letter, you will need to submit your Form 486 (which will be released shortly) to the SLC within 5 days for services that are already being rendered. This will allow your service providers to invoice SLC and receive timely payment for the discounted portion of your costs. Once again, please make any necessary arrangements for completing the Form 486 even during the summer break.

SLC deeply appreciates your help and cooperation during these next critical phases of the 1998 application process, and will continue to do all we can to keep you updated on the process.

SLC at NECC (June 20-23 in San Diego, California)

SPECIAL PRECONFERENCE WORKSHOP

When: Sunday Afternoon, June 21, 1:30-4:30
Sponsored by:  SLC and the International Society for Technology in Education
Presented  by:  Mickey Revenaugh of the SLC (with additional presenters from ISTE and the school
                         and library community)

E-Rate Made Easy: Help from the Schools and Libraries Corporation

Come for a plain-language overview of the Universal Service Program, including a step-by-step guide to the application process, a discussion of lessons learned from the first application cycle, and tips for managing your application for 1999. Participants will have a chance to work in small groups with others who have similar questions and concerns, and get direct answers from the SLC.

Pre-registration for this special workshop is required. For information and registration instructions, go to <http://www.neccsite.org/advprog/conferen2.htm>.

For more information about NECC, go to http://necc98.csusm.edu.

Check the NECC program for other E-rate related events.

We’ve pinpointed the most common trouble spots on Form 471—those items most likely to be identified for correction on your Problem Resolution fax—and developed a one-page graphic guide to fixing each problem. These Quick Fixes are in PDF format for you to print out and use in correcting your application. They are also available via our toll-free fax-on-demand service (800-959-0733--key in document #19). Please feel free to copy these Quick Fixes and share them with your colleagues.

The Vendor Program Overview, located in "Service Provider Information" in the Provider Area, provides vendors and service providers with general information on the process and important components of the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Program, popularly known as E-Rate.

Based on a statistical sampling of Universal Service Fund applications filed to date, the Schools and Libraries Corporation reported to the Federal Communications Commission today that the estimated demand for E-rate discounts for 1998 will be $2 billion. This estimate is part of the SLC's quarterly filing with the FCC.

The Universal Service Program is funded up to $2.25 billion annually by contributions from the telecommunications industry. The actual size of the fund for 1998 is expected to be established soon by the FCC.

No actual funding commitments have been made to any Universal Service Fund applicants. The demand estimate figure is based purely on a statistical sampling of applications. The SLC is still in the process of reviewing the more than 30,000 applications it has received, and will not be making funding commitments for some time. Applicants who are approved for discounts will be notified directly, as will their service providers. At that time, the SLC will calculate the exact total of funding commitments and post this figure to this Web Site.