Schools and Libraries
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Schools & Libraries News Archives for 2007
The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be closed on November 22 and November 23, 2007 in observance of Thanksgiving. (11/21/07)
The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be closed on Thursday, November 22, and Friday, November 23, 2007 in observance of Thanksgiving. The Client Service Bureau will resume normal operations on Monday, November 26, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.
In preparations for opening the FY 2008 window, USAC will be performing maintenance on its systems during this weekend. (10/26/07)
The maintenance will be performed during "off hours" and any interruptions should be of minimal duration. We are aware of the invoicing deadline on Monday October 29, 2007 and do not anticipate that our work will affect that deadline.
USAC’s Schools and Libraries Fall Training Schedule - Save the Date! (7/3/07)
USAC’s Schools and Libraries Division will conduct seven training sessions (1.5 days each) in September and October 2007. Registration is set to open on July 23, 2007. The chart below outlines the fall training schedule.
The purpose of these training sessions is to provide the latest program updates and guidance on how to successfully participate in the Schools & Libraries Program. Each training session will cover the same material, so please attend the training location that is most convenient for you.
Please stay tuned to USAC’s website and e-mail announcements for registration information, hotel accommodations, and presentation materials. Registration for the trainings is complimentary; however, space will be limited to the first 250 registrants per training.
USAC’s Schools and Libraries Fall 2007 Training Schedule
Mid Atlantic Training - Washington, DC |
September 13-14, 2007 |
Southeast Training - Orlando, FL |
September 18-19, 2007 |
Northeast Training - Boston, MA |
September 27-28, 2007 |
Southern Training - New Orleans, LA |
October 2-3, 2007 |
Midwest Training - Cleveland, OH |
October 9-10, 2007 |
West Coast Training - San Francisco, CA |
October 17-18, 2007 |
Southwest Training - Phoenix, AZ |
October 24-25, 2007 |
The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be Closed on January 1, 2008 in Observance of New Year's Day (12/28/07)
The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be closed on January 1, 2008 in Observance of New Year’s Day. The Client Service Bureau will resume normal operations on Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.
The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be Closed on December 25, 2007 in Observance of Christmas (12/21/07)
The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be closed on Tuesday, December 25, 2007 in observance of Christmas. The Client
Service Bureau will resume normal operations on Wednesday, December 26, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.
USAC will be performing maintenance on its training site during this weekend. (11/16/07)
The maintenance will be performed from 9 P.M. November 16 through 6 P.M. November 18. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Reissue of FY2007 Wave 1 FCDLs (4/27/07)
Wave 1 applicant Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDLs) contained some incorrect dates. Funding commitment amounts were not affected; however, USAC will reissue these letters. The correct information for Wave 1 commitments is available from the Data Retrieval Tool and the Form 471 Application Display tool.
Wave 2 FCDLs will be issued once the error has been fixed.
FCC Issues Public Notice on Comment Period for Technology Planning Rules (4/17/07)
On April 25, 2007, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice (FCC 07-1846) establishing the comment period on the technology planning rules concerning technology plan creation and approval for applicants in the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Program. A copy of the petition [PDF, 69KB] filed by the State E-Rate Coordinators Alliance (SECA) requesting clarification and/or waiver of these rules is available on our website.
Comments on technology planning rules are due to the FCC on or before May 10, 2007. Reply comments are due to the FCC on or before May 25, 2007. For information on filing comments with the FCC, please refer to the Public Notice.
Update on FY2005 Waves (4/10/07)
USAC has issued the last regular wave of Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDLs) for Funding Year 2005. USAC is still reviewing the properly completed in-window Forms 471 for which commitments have not yet been made and will continue to issue FCDLs as decisions are reached on those applications.
Funding requests for Funding Year 2005 Priority 2 services will be funded at 80% and above, and denied at 79% and below. Applications filed after the close of the Form 471 application filing window will not be considered for funding.
In general, for applicants who have not yet received an FCDL, USAC has issued a letter or other communication with additional information about the status of commitments on their FY2005 applications.
USAC Provides Demand Estimate for Funding Year 2007 to FCC (3/9/07)
On March 8, 2007, the Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) reported to the Federal Communications Commission that $3.69 billion in requested funding has been estimated for schools and libraries seeking discounts for Funding Year 2007. This estimate is based on the dollars requested in 40,354 applications received or postmarked by February 8, 2007, the close of the Form 471 application filing window.
There are several factors that will reduce ultimately the funds requested from the estimated level. First, while efforts have been made to eliminate duplicate requests, inevitably we will discover more duplication as we process these applications. Second, USAC's efforts to assure that funds are committed only for eligible services, for use by eligible entities with the appropriate discount rate, and are otherwise consistent with program rules, will further reduce the demand.
For detailed information, please refer to the FY2007 Demand Estimate [PDF, 666kb].
Schools & Libraries' web pages and tools down for maintenance starting Friday, November 10, 2006 at 10:00 pm EST.(11/10/06)
In preparation for the FY2007 application window opening, several Schools & Libraries' web pages and tools will be down for maintenance starting Friday, November 10, 2006 at 10:00 pm EST. The system will resume normal operations on Monday, Nov 13, 2006 at 6 am EST.
FY2008 Application Filing Window Dates Established. (10/29/07)
The FY2008 application filing window will open at noon EST on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 and will close at 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 7, 2008. The filing window will be open for 93 days.
Applicants should note that FY2008 Forms 470 can be filed now.
Traditionally, a high percentage of Forms 471 arrive at USAC during the final week that the window is open. We urge you to file early so that:
- You have an opportunity to review your work and make corrections if necessary.
- You can re-file your form if an error you made cannot be corrected.
- USAC has your information and can start reviewing your application.
We also urge you to file online:
- The system notifies you of possible errors and allows you to correct them.
- The system does your calculations for you.
- You can review your information online before you submit it.
- Your information is submitted to us quickly and correctly.
Eligible Services List Issued – USAC will issue a Special Edition News Brief next week announcing the dates of the FY2008 application filing window. (10/26/07 | updated: 11/02/07)
The FCC issued Public Notice FCC 07-182 on October 19, 2007 with an erratum in a Public Notice released October 30, 2007. This public notice released the FY2008 Eligible Services List and waived the requirement that the Eligible Services List be published at least 60 days before the commencement of the filing window.
Please review the Public Notice and the Eligible Services List carefully for details on the products and services that will be eligible for discounts for FY2008 applications.
Federal Communications Commission Approves the Release of Funding for Funding Year 2006 Priority 2 Commitments at the 90% Discount Level. (10/17/06)
On Tuesday, October 17, 2006, the Federal Communications Commission approved the release of funding for Funding Year 2006 Priority 2 commitments at the 90% discount level and the denial of Funding Year 2006 Priority 2 commitments at 60% and below. For Funding Year 2005, the FCC denied Priority 2 commitments at the 77 - 79% discount level.
FCC Proposes to Reissue FCC Forms 472, 473, 474, 479, 486 and 500 (9/15/06)
The FCC invites comment by November 13, 2006 on the following six forms it proposes to send - with slight modifications - to the Office of Management and Budget, with a request for approval for the next three years:
- Form 472, the Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) Form
- Form 473, the Service Provider Annual Certification (SPAC) Form
- Form 474, the Service Provider Invoice (SPI) Form
- Form 479, Certification by Administrative Authority to Billed Entity of Compliance with Children’s Internet Protection Act
- Form 486, Receipt of Service Confirmation Form
- Form 500, Adjustment to Funding Commitment and Modification to Receipt of Service Confirmation Form
Form 470 and Form 471 will remain the same for the FY2007 filing window.
All six proposed forms have been updated with notices on the Privacy Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act. In addition, the FCC has proposed the following changes:
- Form 472 will be corrected to show that service providers have 20 business days – not ten, as was previously true – to remit payments to applicants. Applicants are reminded that this is 20 business days after the service provider RECEIVES the payments, not 20 business days after USAC authorizes the payment. Mailed checks take longer than electronic transfers. (Schools and Libraries Second Report and Order, FCC 03-101)
- Form 473 contains an additional certification that the service provider has complied with competitive bidding rules. (Schools and Libraries Fifth Report and Order, FCC 04-190)
- The estimated response time for Form 479 has been reduced to reflect actual program practice.
- Form 486 contains a certification that the technology plan was approved before the receipt of services. (Schools and Libraries Fifth Report and Order, FCC 04-190)
The proposed draft forms are posted on the Required Forms page of the USAC website.
Comments should refer to OMB collections 3060-0853 (FCC Forms 479, 486 and 500) and/or 3060-0856 (FCC Forms 472, 473 and 474), and should be submitted on or before the close of business Monday, November 13, 2006 to Judith B. Herman, Federal Communications Commission, Room 1-C804, 445 12th Street SW, Washington D.C. 20554, or via the Internet to PRA@fcc.gov .
Notice of the comment period was published September 13, 2006 in the Federal Register at 71 FR 54072.
Online BEAR System Temporarily Unavailable (9/7/07)
USAC is aware of a problem between the USAC E-Filing System and the Online BEAR System. Service providers are unable to log in to the BEAR System to review and certify forms filed online by their customers. We are working to identify and resolve the issue.
We apologize for the inconvenience and hope to have this resolved quickly.
FRNs with an invoice deadline of today will automatically be extended to allow us to address this issue.
The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be Closed on Wednesday, July 4, 2007 in Observance of the Fourth of July(7/2/07)
The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be Closed on Wednesday, July 4, 2007 in Observance of the Fourth of July. The Client Service Bureau will resume normal operations on Thursday, July 5, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.
Table of Applicants Listed in the Bishop Perry Order (FCC 06-54) 5/22/06
USAC has published a table of all applicants listed in the three appendices of the first appeals remand order FCC 06-54. The list contains the following:
- Billed Entity Name
- Billed Entity Number
- Appendix (A, B, or C)
- Funding Year
- Form 470/471 Application Number as shown in the order
- Actual Form 470/471 Application Number, if different from that shown in the order
Applications that featured only barcodes (in the format NEC.xxx.xx-xx-xx.xxxxxxxx) have now been assigned an application number, which appears in the final column. Other entries identify and correct any discrepancies in the data listed in the appendices.
Information on applications that were not specifically included in this list but that will receive relief under this order will be provided in the future.
The FCC directed USAC to process the applications listed in the appendices and issue a decision within 60 days from the release date of the order. USAC is reaching out to applicants for additional information needed to complete this processing. However, USAC may not be able to complete processing for those applicants that do not respond within the required timeframe.
USAC Begins Work to Implement FCC Orders Regarding Appeals Decisions (5/22/06)
On Friday, May 19, 2006, the FCC issued two appeals Orders affecting hundreds of schools, libraries and consortia, remanding their applications to USAC for further consideration. The first Order (FCC 06-54 PDF, 233KB) grants appeals of decisions by USAC denying funding for certain clerical or ministerial errors in the application, such as missing deadlines or leaving portions of a form blank. The second Order (FCC 06-55 PDF, 137KB) addresses USAC’s pattern analysis procedure, requiring USAC to conduct further review to determine whether competitive-bidding violations have occurred.
USAC is working to determine how to implement these appeals decisions and will soon post on our website a list of affected parties by applicant number as well as appropriate instructions regarding the actions you will need to take to comply with the FCC Orders.
By Friday, May 26, 2006, USAC will issue a Remand Acknowledgment Letter [PDF, 70KB] to the applicants listed in the three Appendices attached to FCC 06-54.
If you are interested in how the appeals decisions will impact you or future funding decisions, please check the USAC website and read the weekly NewsBrief for more information as it comes available. We are studying the impact of these Orders on regularly scheduled funding decisions and as the impact becomes known, we will be sure to notify you.
USAC Revises FY2006 Form 470-Related Procedures (5/15/06)
Beginning with FY2006, USAC discontinued the practice of contacting applicants when the Form 470 number did not support the funding request. Through the first several FY2006 waves, this has led to a significant increase in the number of Form 470-related application denials.
Applicants who completed their Form 471 online during the FY2006 application filing window received a "pop-up" that provided specific information about the cited Form 470 that needed to be confirmed before the user was able to proceed. In addition, all applicants received a Receipt Acknowledgment Letter (RAL) with specific instructions to check their Form 470 number and make any necessary changes.
In too many cases, the two safeguards mentioned above have not prevented a number of applicants from referencing an incorrect Form 470 number.
In order to provide high-quality customer service, USAC will revert to the prior practice of contacting applicants who have provided an incorrect Form 470 number for FY2006 applications.
For those FY2006 applicants who have already been denied for providing an incorrect Form 470 number, USAC will re-review their applications and reach out to get the establishing Form 470 number. This is the Form 470 that began the competitive bidding process that led to the specific funding request. After the information has been received, the application will be processed in the normal manner. Applicants will not be required to appeal to USAC for relief.
All applicants are encouraged to review the information provided on the RAL and to submit corrections now, even if the three-week timeframe has passed. Doing so can speed up the review process and result in faster issuance of the Funding Commitment Decision Letter.
If you have questions, please contact the Client Service Bureau at 1-888-203-8100.
The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be Closed on May 28, 2007 in Observance of Memorial Day. (5/25/07)
The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be closed on Monday, May 28, 2007 in Observance of Memorial Day. The Client Service Bureau will resume normal operations on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.
USAC Will Release First Commitments for Funding Year 2007 in the Schools and Libraries Program April 23 (4/17/07)
The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) today announced it will release wave one of funding commitment decision letters (FCDLs) to Funding Year 2007 school and library applicants on April 23. USAC will send letters committing over 21,000 funding requests totaling more than $202 million in Universal Service Fund support. The FCDLs will notify applicants of funding commitments for Priority One services (telecommunications and Internet access) for all discount bands from 20% to 90%.
Press Release [PDF, 34kb]
Spring Training for Service Providers - April 18 and 25, 2007 (3/5/07)
USAC’s Schools and Libraries Division will conduct two one-day service provider trainings in April. The purpose of these trainings is to provide service providers with the latest program updates and guidance on how to successfully participate in the Schools and Libraries Program.
The trainings will be held in Atlanta, Georgia on April 18, 2007 and Chicago, Illinois on April 25, 2007.
Please stay tuned to USAC’s website and e-mail announcements for registration information, hotel accommodations and presentation materials. The complimentary registration will be limited to the first 200 registrants per training.
Important RAL Issues (02/14/07)
RAL Programming Error and Revised RALs
Due to a programming error, the first batch of Form 471 Receipt Acknowledgment Letters (RALs) for FY2007 contained incorrect information. As a result, USAC will issue revised RALs to all of the affected applicants and reset their 20-day deadline for correcting errors using the RAL process.
The incorrect information appeared in Item 23g (Ineligible non-recurring charges). The incorrect information did not affect the calculation for the value in Item 23h (Eligible pre-discount amount for non-recurring charges).
This problem affected just over 8,000 RALs and just over 19,000 FRNs. The programming error was corrected before the second batch of RALs was issued. Revised RALs for affected applicants should be issued within a few days.
“Contact PIA” Comment on RALs
An incorrect entry in the field “Contract Expiration Date” on your Form 471 is not considered a ministerial or clerical error. It can only be changed under limited circumstances and in consultation with your Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) reviewer.
In the RAL Funding Requests Report, the field “Contract Expiration Date” is marked “Contact PIA” in the area of the report where corrections can be written in. This is not a request to contact PIA.
If you feel you have made an error in this field, make a note of the correction you wish to make and then wait to discuss it until your PIA reviewer contacts you to begin your review. Because USAC cannot process requests in advance of that review, please do not attempt to contact PIA now.
We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience.
Extended Window Assistance from CSB (Updated 02/07/07)
The Form 471 application filing window closes at 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 8. Forms 471 must be received or postmarked by this date to be considered as within the window.
The Client Service Bureau (CSB) will be open extended hours to assist with the application process. Normal CSB hours are 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST on weekdays. For the filing window, CSB will also be open during the following hours:
| Saturday, February 3 | 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. EST |
| Sunday, February 4 | 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. EST |
| Wednesday, February 7 | 8:00 a.m. – 11:59 p.m. EST |
| Thursday, February 8 | 8:00 a.m. – 11:59 p.m. EST |
In addition, if your service provider does not yet have a Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN), CSB can provide you with a solution that will allow you to complete your Form 471 Block 5 funding request. However, your service provider must have a SPIN before USAC can make a commitment on your request.
Important Reminder for Pre-Kindergarten Schools (including preschools and Head Start Centers) (02/01/07)
In order to be eligible to receive support from the Schools and Libraries program, all entities must meet the federal and state definitions of elementary or secondary school. This means that the state must first consider you to be a school and then USAC will determine if pre-Kindergarten schools in your state are eligible. The Eligibility Table for Non-traditional K-12 Students and Facilities provides a listing of the states that include pre-Kindergarten in their definition of elementary school.
It is possible that some pre-Kindergarten programs in a state will be able to meet both parts of the test and therefore be eligible for funding, while others will not. If you are, for example, a Head Start Center that is not considered a school in your state, you are not eligible for funding, even if the Eligibility Table indicates that pre-Kindergarten facilities are eligible in your state. Please check with your State Department of Education if you are unsure if the state considers you to be a school.
