Attendance at E-rate Workshops Strongly Encouraged
Message Posted September 14, 1998
John Bailey and I were looking over the registration list for the upcoming E-rate workshops, and we realized that of the approx. 1000 entities in Pennsylvania that applied for discounts, only a few hundred individuals have registered for a workshop. And very few vendors are registered.
In case I didn't present the reasons to attend this workshop quite strongly enough, allow me to reiterate...
I have been briefed on the process for discounted invoicing and the process by which schools and libraries can receive retro-active discounts, and it's NOT a pretty picture. I'd like to think I know quite a bit about E-rate, and, my friends, my head was spinning when I was told what is entailed during these next steps.
* If you haven't yet received services for which you requested discounts, you will have to complete one additional form -- Form 486 -- within five days of receiving the Funding Commitment Letter. The form itself is not difficult, but I still encourage your attendance so you understand your Funding Commitment Letter and you and your service provider's obligations for the remainder of the program's year.
* If you already have received services for which you requested discounts, YOU NEED TO ATTEND THIS WORKSHOP -- PERIOD. In addition to the Form 486, you will be required to submit the Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) Form -- a form that must be completed and signed by both the school or library and the service provider that calculates the exact amount of money that has been spent for each service from service start date to a date that will be determined by the date of the bill following receipt of the Funding Commitment Letter. After the BEAR Form is submitted, the SLC sends a letter to the service provider telling them that they should reimburse or credit the school or library for discounts. The service provider has 20 days to do this, provided the Universal Service Administrative Company has reimbursed the service provider. Needless to say, it's going to be quite difficult for anyone to understand unless they attend a workshop, have examples provided to them, and received a
step-by-step guide to completing and understanding this form.
* Because of the difficult nature of these next steps, the Schools and Libraries Corporation is making an effort to travel to every state to present a workshop. Therefore, Deb Kriete from the SLC will be presenting at the Harrisburg workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Julie Tritt will be presenting at the other four workshops, but the information will remain the same. Some individuals have asked if the teleconference on Sept. 28 will cover the same information as these workshops, and as far as I know, it
will. It's my personal opinion, however, that a hands-on workshop with actual copies and examples of the forms is the best way to learn and understand this process.
* Service providers are STRONGLY encouraged to attend. If you have any doubt that your service provider will be receiving this same information from some other reliable source, please invite them to attend. Not only should they be interested in how they will be getting paid, but they are a co-author and co-signer of the BEAR Form, and soon will be required to adjust their billing to reflect discounts.
* Seating is limited. Please register early to guarantee your seat at http://L2L.org/98workshops. Pittsburgh and Harrisburg locations are filling up fast.
In addition to E-rate, several other funding opportunities will be presented during the day, including the 1998-99 Technology Literacy Challenge Fund Grant (Basic Ed), the Pennsylvania Digital Grassroots Grant (Basic Ed), the Integrating Technology Into Teacher Preparation Grant (Higher Ed), and the Educational Technology Assessment and Evaluation Grant (Higher Ed). Other topics to be covered are the 1998 Link-to-Learn Technology Survey results, the new Link-to-Learn listserv and web site, and
the updated Link-to-Learn Professional Development CD. Grant applications were mailed last week are available online at www.L2L.org/98workshops.
Workshops will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. each day, with the E-rate workshop beginning at 1:30. Each regional workshop will be identical in form and content. Registration is online at http://L2L.org/98workshops .
IMPORTANT: There is no fee for the workshop, but participants must pre-register at least 72 hours in advance of the preferred workshop on the project Web site at http://L2L.org/98workshops/ . If you do not have access to the Web, contact Arthur Lizie at 215-204-2712 for information on how to register. A buffet lunch will be provided to pre-registered attendees.
September 23 Harrisburg area - Radisson Penn Harris
September 28 Philadelphia area - Holiday Inn King of Prussia
September 29 Williamsport - Gennetti Hotel
October 1 Meadville - Meadville Days Inn
October 2 Pittsburgh area - Holiday Inn Monroeville
AGENDA
8:30 - 9:00 Check-in/Continental Breakfast
9:00 - 9:45 Opening Session/Major Announcements
9:45 - 10:15 Link-to-Learn Survey Results
10:30 - 11:30 Technology Literacy Challenge Fund (Basic Ed)
11:30 - 12:30 Digital Grassroots (Basic Ed)
10:30 - 12:30 Educational Technology Impact Analysis (Higher Ed)
12:30 - 1:30 Lunch
1:30 - 3:30 E-rate
1:30 - 3:30 Integrating Technology into Teacher Preparation (Higher Ed)
Julie L. Tritt
Executive Policy Specialist
Office of Educational Technology
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street
10th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126
Tel: (717) 787-5820
Fax: (717) 787-7222
00jtritt@psupen.psu.edu
www.state.pa.us
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