SLC Releases Form 486 Filing Guidance;
Next Application Window Still Expected To Open Dec. 1
Message Posted November 30, 1998
The Schools and Libraries Corporation has just released two very helpful pieces of information for entities that have received or will be receiving
funding commitment letters. First, they are being quite flexible with the 5-day turn around time for the Form 486, and second, they simply want you
to add zeros to the beginning of your 471 application number is the total number of digits listed doesn't equal 10.
Also, the SLC web site is still giving all indications that the next application window (for services provided on or after July 1, 1999) will
open tomorrow, December 1, 1998. Because of the 80 day window and the strong possibility that they may extend the window, please don't panic if
you aren't prepared to apply tomorrow. If they don't extend the window, you will have until January 20 to submit your Form 470 and still have time
to wait 28 days and submit your Form 471 before the end of the window on February 19. Officially, the SLC web site will go offline at 6 p.m. ET on
November 30, 1998. The site will re-open at 7 a.m. ET on December 1, and will then be open daily from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. ET until further notice.
-- Julie
SLC FORM 486 FILING GUIDANCE
With the first wave of funding commitment decision letters now arriving in applicants' mailboxes and the second wave fast approaching, the Schools and
Libraries Corporation offers two very important clarifications for filing Form 486, the next step in the E-rate process.
FIVE-DAY TURNAROUND: For services that are already in place, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit Form 486 within five BUSINESS days of RECEIPT of their funding commitment decisions letters. The SLC has established this five-business-day turnaround standard for the Form 486 in order to help
applicants and service providers receive reimbursements as quickly as possible, since no invoices to SLC for E-rate discounts can be paid until the relevant Form 486 has been approved. WHILE WE URGE APPLICANTS TO DO ALL THEY CAN TO MEET THIS FIVE-BUSINESS-DAY TURNAROUND STANDARD, NO FORMS 486 WILL BE *REJECTED* ON THIS BASIS. Applicants unable to meet the standard should simply file Form 486 as soon as they can. Applicants who receive their funding commitment decision letters on or around holiday periods should note that *business days* means school or library business days. Please also note that, for new services, the Form 486 should be filed within five business days of the new service beginning, regardless of when
the funding commitment decision letter was received.
*10-DIGIT* FIELDS: Where several columns of Block 2 of Form 486 request 10-digit numbers, some applicants may in fact have numbers representing
only eight (8) digits. Specifically, Column (A) of Block 2 requests a 10-digit Form 471 Application Number, and Column (B) of Block 2 requests a
10-digit Funding Request Number. If either the Form 471 Application Number or a Funding Request Number is reported to you in your funding commitment
decision letter as an 8-digit number, please add two zeroes to the beginning of the number when completing Form 486. For example, Funding Request Number 12345678 becomes 0012345678.
Julie L. Tritt
Executive Policy Specialist
Office of Educational Technology
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street, 10th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126
Tel: (717) 705-4486
Fax: (717) 787-7222
00jtritt@psupen.psu.edu
www.L2L.org
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