SLD Extends Reimbursement Process for Entire 1st Year
Message Posted March 5, 1999
Great news. At the coaxing of service providers and applicants, and because of the realization that most service providers aren't prepared to
post discounts on bills yet, the FCC/SLD have decided to allow applicants to submit BEAR Forms for reimbursements for the entire first year of the
program. There are a few dates that must be followed, however. Please read the following notice from the SLD.
-- Julie
From the SLD....
BEAR PROCESS TO PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENTS THROUGH JUNE 30, 1999
At the request of both service providers and funded applicants, the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) will be accepting Billed Entity
Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) Forms for reimbursement of discounts on bills paid in full through the end of the first program year. Previously,
the BEAR Form (FCC Form 472) was intended to provide coverage only through December 31, 1998.
Under the BEAR process, the approved E-rate applicant pays in full for eligible services (both the discounted portion and the amount that the
billed entity is responsible for paying-the undiscounted portion) and then submits the BEAR form to the fund administrator (the SLD/USAC). The fund
administrator will inform the service provider of the amount that the service provider must reimburse to the applicant. The reimbursement is
paid from the fund administrator to the service provider, and from the service provider to the applicant. The extended BEAR process will use the
same form - FCC Form 472 - but with the following additional guidelines:
FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES AND INTERNET ACCESS
The extended BEAR process is available at the option of the service provider. Some service providers may choose to issue discounted bills to
their customers rather than expecting payment in full and providing reimbursements using the BEAR process, but MOST telecommunications and
Internet access service providers are expected to rely on the BEAR process for services through the end of the first program year. Consult with your
service providers to find out how you should proceed - whether to file a BEAR Form - to obtain discounts for services delivered from January 1999
through the end of the first program year.
FOR INTERNAL CONNECTIONS
The extended BEAR process is available at the option of the applicant. Some applicants may choose to pay in full for services for which they have
been approved for discounts and then use the BEAR process to seek reimbursement, but most internal connections providers who have been in
contact with the SLD have told us that they will issue discounted bills.
OPTIONS
* For services delivered and paid for from January 1, 1999 through June 30, 1999, applicants have the option of submitting two quarterly BEAR forms or
one BEAR form covering the entire six-month period.
QUARTERLY OPTION
Services provided, billed, and paid for:
BEAR Form due:
January 1-March 31, 1999 May 15, 1999
April 1-June 30, 1999 August 15, 1999
SIX-MONTH OPTION
Services provided, billed, and paid for:
BEAR Form due:
January 1-June 30, 1999 August 15, 1999
* For services delivered, billed, and paid for through December 31, 1998, applicants should submit their BEAR forms as soon as possible after
receiving a funding commitment decisions letter AND submitting Form 486 (with Column I of Block 2 marked "yes") for that service.
* Applicants should read carefully the BEAR Form instructions and the updated "Ten BEAR Form Tips" (www.slcfund.org/Reference/472/BEAR.asp, or
via fax-on-demand, 800/959-0733, document # 513) before completing their BEAR Forms, and call the SLD help line, 888/203-8100 if they need any
additional assistance.
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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