"Straight-A" E-Rate Practices
Technology Plans
Schools, school districts, and libraries that want to apply for E-Rate must first prepare a technology plan. An approved technology plan sets out how information technology and telecommunications infrastructure will be used to achieve educational goals, specific curriculum reforms, or library service improvements. The plan should cover the entire funding year (July 1 to June 30) and must contain the following five elements:
- Goals and realistic strategy for using telecommunications and information technology
- A professional development strategy
- An assessment of telecommunication services, hardware, software, and other services needed Budget resources
- Ongoing evaluation process
- The technology plan must be approved by a USAC-certified technology plan approver before discounted services can begin.
Form 470
Applicants must file the Description of Services Requested and Certification Form (Form 470) to begin the competitive process and must ensure an open and fair competitive bidding process for specific products.
The Form 470 must be completed by the entity that will negotiate for eligible products and services with potential service providers. A service provider that participates in the competitive bidding process as a bidder cannot be involved in the preparation or certification of the entity's Form 470 (i.e. Trillion will not be able to help you with your 470 form).
Form 471
- You MUST wait at least 28 days from the POSTING of the Form 470 before:
- Selecting a service provider
- Signing a contract
- Signing and submitting a completed Form 471
- You SHOULD file separate Forms 471 for Priority 1 and Priority 2 services
- You SHOULD remove ineligible costs
- You SHOULD filie online --it speeds up processing and reduces errors
Ask the SLD
For an overview of the entire process, visit the USAC website:
http://www.usac.org/sl/about/overview-process.aspx
Got a question? Go straight to the source: USAC's Schools and Libraries Division
http://www.slforms.universalservice.org/EMailResponse/EMail_Intro.aspx
Free E-Rate Training
Provided by eSchool News and ESPA (E-Rate Service Providers Association)
