Schools and Libraries
About the Schools and Libraries Program:
- Overview of the Program
- Overview of the Process
- Outreach and Training
- Site Visits
- Filing Appeals
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Schools and Libraries Tools:
Schools & Libraries News Archives for 2008
USAC's Schools & Libraries News Archive gives you access to all announcements related to the Schools & Libraries Program as they were made throughout the years. The archives will be updated as new announcements are made.
The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2008 in observance of Labor Day
The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2008 in observance of Labor Day. The Client Service Bureau will resume normal operations on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.
Schools & Libraries website maintenance starting Friday, July 18, 2008, 5 pm EDT
USAC will perform maintenance on the Schools & Libraries website starting Friday, July 18, 2008, 5 pm EDT. The system will resume normal operations on Sunday, July 20, 2008, at 6 pm EDT. Users will be unable to access Apply Online, Submit a Question, and most of the search tools during this maintenance period.
The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be Closed on Friday, July 4, 2008 in Observance of the Fourth of July.
The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be closed on Friday, July 4, 2008 in Observance of the Fourth of July. The Client Service Bureau will resume normal operations on Monday, July 7, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.
Schools and Libraries Applicant Training Sessions (Fall 2008) – Save the Dates!
USAC plans to conduct seven applicant training sessions in September and October 2008. Each training session will last one and one-half days.
We have indicated below the cities and weeks we expect to schedule the training. Arrangements are still tentative at this point, but we want to provide you with preliminary information so you can begin planning for the fall. We intend to avoid travel or training on holidays – specifically, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Columbus Day.
Once training arrangements have been finalized, we will post to the website a complete list of training cities and dates with hotel information and online registration forms.
We look forward to seeing you this fall.
Tentative Training Schedule
| Cities | Weeks |
| Washington, DC | Week of September 8 |
| Seattle, WA | Week of September 15 |
| Denver, CO | Week of September 22 |
| Chicago, IL | Week of September 29 |
| Newark, NJ | Week of October 6 |
| Los Angeles, CA | Week of October 13 |
| Atlanta, GA | Week of October 20 |
The Schools & Libraries Client Service Bureau will be Closed on May 26, 2008 in Observance of Memorial Day.
The Schools & Libraries Client Service Bureau will be closed on Monday, May 26, 2008 in Observance of Memorial Day. The Client Service Bureau will resume normal operations on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.
Schools & Libraries website and training environment maintenance starting Friday, May 16, 2008, 5 pm EDT
USAC will be performing maintenance on the Schools & Libraries website starting Friday, May 16, 2008, 5 pm EDT. The system will resume normal operations on Monday, May 19, 2008, 8 am, EDT. Users will be unable to access Apply Online, Submit a Question, and most of the search tools during this maintenance period.
USAC will also be performing maintenance on the training environment starting Friday, May 16, 2008, 5 pm EDT. The training environment will resume normal operations on Tuesday, May 27, 2008, 8 am, EDT.
USAC Salutes Teachers in Honor of National Teacher Day
In honor of National Teacher Day today, USAC would like to thank teachers for their dedication and efforts in teaching tomorrow's leaders. USAC would like to recognize especially those teachers who embrace and incorporate new technologies into their curricula made available by such programs as the Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund. Using Internet access and telecommunications technologies enriches our children's learning experiences and prepares them for the future as active, involved leaders of our communities. Thank you for all you do for our children, our communities, and our world.
USAC Releases First Commitments for Funding Year 2008
USAC released wave one of funding commitment decision letters (FCDLs) to Funding Year 2008 (FY2008) school and library applicants on May 1. USAC sent over 10,000 letters committing more than $352 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%.
- View the Press Release [PDF, 40KB]
Schools & Libraries website maintenance starting Friday, May 2, 2008, 6 pm EDT
USAC will be performing maintenance on the Schools & Libraries website starting Friday, May 2, 2008, 6 pm EDT. The system will resume normal operations on Saturday, May 3, 2008, noon, EDT. Users will be unable to access Apply Online, Submit a Question, and most of the search tools during this maintenance period.
GAO Survey of E-rate Beneficiaries
You may be selected to participate in a survey that will be conducted shortly by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), an agency of the U.S. Congress, as part of a GAO review of the E-rate program. We urge you to participate.
GAO plans to survey approximately 700 randomly selected beneficiaries to obtain information on their experiences with and views of the E-rate program. Because beneficiaries will be randomly selected, survey responses will be representative of the entire E-rate beneficiary population. Those beneficiaries chosen to participate will receive an e-mail from GAO later this month with instructions on how to access and complete the survey.
GAO will discuss the results of the survey in a report to Congress to be issued later this year. We encourage you to participate in the survey, if requested, so GAO will be able to provide Congress with the best possible information on how the E-rate program is working for beneficiaries and what improvements may be needed to help it work better.
Only GAO staff assigned to this study will be able to access and view your responses. GAO will report the results of the survey in summary form, and if they discuss any individual answers in their report, they will exclude any information that could be used to tie individual beneficiaries to their responses.
USAC Provides Demand Estimate for Funding Year 2008 to FCC
On February 29, 2008, the Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) reported to the Federal Communications Commission that $4.3 billion in requested funding has been estimated for schools and libraries seeking discounts for Funding Year 2008. This estimate is based on the dollars requested in 39,909 applications received or postmarked by February 7, 2008, 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 FY2008 Demand Estimate [PDF, 599kb].
The FY2008 Window Has Closed –
Congratulations to Applicants and Service Providers!
At 11:59 p.m. EST last night, the FY2008 application filing window closed. Our preliminary results show that a high percentage of your applications, certifications, and Item 21 Attachments were filed online. By filing online you have made it possible for us to start the review process more quickly, which is what we all want. In addition, filing online greatly reduces the chance of errors. We appreciate your efforts.
We will now work to complete data entry of the paper applications postmarked within the application window that arrive at our offices next week. To help us in this effort:
- If you have not certified a Form 470 or Form 471, please do so as soon as possible. Remember that you can use your PIN to certify online.
- File all remaining Item 21 Attachments for the funding requests on your Form 471. You can file online using your Form 471 application number and security code, or you can file electronically, by fax, or on paper.
Last-minute Filing Tips
File your Form 471 online and as soon as possible.
If you are having trouble filing online:
- Use a supported browser – Internet Explorer or Netscape.
- Allow pop-ups.
- Clear out your temporary Internet files. (More info…)
Call CSB this weekend (9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST) if you have a question or problem. (More info…)
Ask CSB now if you need a new entity number – don’t wait until the window is closing. (More info…)
Use 143666666 to data enter a SPIN for a Block 5 funding request if your service provider doesn’t have a SPIN or you’re not sure which SPIN to use. (More info…)
For your Block 4 worksheets, you can look up your NCES code or FSCS code on the NCES website. You can also leave this item blank online. (More info…)
If you file or certify on paper, keep proof of postmark or delivery. (More info…)
Online Form 471 Will Be Unavailable From This Friday Night at Midnight to 6:00 a.m. Saturday Morning, February 2
Each year, on the weekend before the filing window closes, USAC reboots its systems to enhance the performance of the network in preparation for the large volume of online Forms 471 that come in during the last few days of the window.
The Apply Online system will be unavailable from midnight on Friday to 6:00 a.m. on Saturday morning, February 2. Applicants will be able to see the Apply Online page but they will not be able to start a new form or work on an existing one while the system is offline.
Also, the Client Service Bureau will be open this weekend and on the evening of the window close for any last-minute questions. Applicants can call 1-888-203-8100 or use Submit a Question to pose their questions and get prompt answers.
CSB is normally open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST. However, USAC has expanded the hours CSB will be open during the week preceding the close of the window:
Saturday, February 2 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. EST
Sunday, February 3 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. EST
Monday, February 4 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST
Tuesday, February 5 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST
Wednesday, February 6 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST
Thursday, February 7 8:00 a.m. – 11:59 p.m. EST
Please note also that the SLD Training Site will be unavailable during this last week of the window to prevent applicants from filing a Form 471 on the training site by mistake and to further improve the performance of the network.
The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be Closed on January 21, 2008 in Observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.
The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be closed on Monday, January 21, 2008 in Observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. The Client Service Bureau will resume normal operations on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.
FY2008 Form 470 Posting Deadline is January 10
Thursday, January 10, 2008 is the last day to POST a Form 470 for FY2008 to the USAC website in time to complete the competitive bidding requirements and submit a Form 471 by the window close deadline of February 7, 2008.
You must post your Form 470 online. If you mail a paper Form 470 to USAC now it will not be posted in time. As stated in the FY2008 Letter to the Field:
- If you submit your Form 470 online, it is posted immediately.
- If you submit your Form 470 on paper, USAC will make every effort to post it by January 10 if it is received on or before Thursday, January 3, 2008.
If you wait until January 10 to post your Form 470, you must complete all of the following on February 7, 2008:
- Close your competitive bidding process (which must be open for 28 days)
- Select your service provider
- Sign a contract for services other than non-contracted tariffed or month-to-month services
- Sign, date, and submit your Form 471.
