E-Rate for Libraries

Donna Mattingly, E-Rate Central

Greg Weisiger, E-Rate Central

Agenda

• What is E-Rate?• E-Rate Categories of Service• E-Rate Timeline• Technology Planning• Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)• Applying for E-Rate• Form 470 (Example)• E-Rate Resources• Questions?

[Please indicate your answer in the poll at right]

Have you applied for E-rate?Yes, in the past yearYes, in the past 3 yearsMy library has, but I haven't been a part of

the application processNo, never applied

Poll Question

What is E-Rate?

• Discounts on telecommunications, Internet Access, Internal Connections and Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections

• Schools and libraries are eligible

• Discounts range from 20–90%, the amount of discount depends on the level of poverty and location of the school or library (urban or rural) receiving services

• Average discount for libraries is about 70%

• Funding comes from the Universal Service Fees on your telephone bills

• Regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)

What can E-Rate mean to my library?

E-Rate Categories of Services

Priority One (P1) - Telecommunications ServicesExamples:

Local and Long Distance service Cellular Service

Text messaging Web browsing

Broadband Telecommunications, including service to Bookmobiles

Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Taxes and fees Installation and configuration

Priority One (P1) - Internet AccessExamples:

E-mail Service Wireless Internet Access for cell phones Broadband Internet Access

(From DSL to Ethernet) Web Hosting VoIP

E-Rate Categories of Service

Priority Two (P2) – Internal Connections & Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections

Examples of Internal Connections: Support for equipment and cabling on-site that transport

information to classrooms or public rooms of a library Does NOT include end-user components such as computers Subject to the Two-in-Five Rule

Entities can only receive funding every two out of five years

Examples of Basic Maintenance: Repair and upkeep of eligible hardware Wire and cable maintenance Basic technical support

NOTE: Only highest discount libraries will qualify for P2

E-rate Categories of Services

E-Rate Timeline for 2011

Technology Plan• Only for Priority 2 Services

Request Services – Form 470• By February 24th

Order Services – Form 471• By March 24th

Receive Services – Form 486• Typically by October 29, 2011

Invoice USAC – Form 472• Typically by October 28, 2012

Fund Year: July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012

Requirements for FY 2011 and beyond:

No longer required for Priority One Services; Telecommunications and Internet Access

Required for Priority Two Services; Internal Connections and Basic Maintenance

Four required elements: Clear Goals, Needs Assessment, Staff Development, Evaluation

Technology Plan

Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)

Requirements of CIPA

Technology Protection Measure, Filter Internet Access: images of child pornography (illegal) visual depictions that are obscene (local norms) harmful to minors (local norms)

Internet Safety Policy must address: Minors’ access to inappropriate material safety and security of minors when online unauthorized access and unlawful activities by minors online disclosure and dissemination of minors’ personal information protection measure (filter)

Public Notice and Hearing

CIPA Compliance only required for Internet Access and P2 funding

Applying for E-rate

Obtain a Billed Entity Number (BEN):Call the SLD at 1-888-203-8100

Obtain a registration number from the FCC (FCC RN):

https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do

Apply online Form 470 and 471:http://www.sl.universalservice.org/menu.asp

Form 470: Who I Am and What I Want

The “Who I Am and What I Want” form begins the competitive process:

• Must be filed by the entity that is able to negotiate and sign contracts on behalf of the school or library

• Identify and describe your desired categories of service and the function of the services

• Notify potential bidders (service providers) of the types and quantities of services that you need

• Follow all applicable state and local procurement laws

• Wait 28 days after the Form 470 is posted to the USAC website or after public availability of your Request for Proposals (RFP), whichever is later, before selecting a vendor or executing a contract

Your Form Identifier

X

X

XX

X

X

X

Billed Entity Number (BEN) from SLD

X

X

X

Priority 1 services only

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Next Steps after the Form 470

• Wait 28 days after the Form 470 is posted

• Keep all incoming bids/correspondence with bidders and prepare to evaluate bids equally

Price as the primary factor – when evaluating bids, the price of E-Rate eligible services must be the most heavily-weighted factor in your evaluation of bids

Sample Evaluation Sheet:Price of the ELIGIBLE goods and services 30%Prior experience 25%Personnel qualifications 20%State, Cooperative, GSA Master Contract 15%Local Vendor 10%TOTAL 100%

• Calculate the library’s Discount Level using local school Free and Reduced Lunch figures

• Submit Form 471 by March 24, 2011 deadline

Keys to Success

Start early – little issues can slow you downPlan a strategySave everything – a good filing system goes a

long wayAsk questions, use E-rate resourcesAttend the Form 471 webinar on March 15th

E-Rate Central, Donna M. Mattingly dmattingly@e-ratecentral.com (804) 302-4406

E-Rate Central, Greg Weisiger erate1@aol.com (804) 302-4406

E-Rate Central Website: http://www.e-ratecentral.com/default.asp

Universal Service Administrative Company: http://www.universalservice.org/sl

Federal Communications Commission: http://www.fcc.gov

E-Rate State Coordinators: http://www.e-ratecentral.com/us/default.asp

E-Rate Resources

Questions?

Stay Involved

March 15 WebinarE-rate: Form 471 and Beyond!

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