New Form 471 Interview Format Available
Message Posted January 7, 2003
The SLD has added a slick new option for submitting Form 471s online utilizing a new "Interview Interface." The interview format is designed to walk smaller applicants through the application process. Conceptually, the new format is comparable to work like TurboTax, although at its current stage of development, the Form 471 interview interface is not as sophisticated. (The 470 Interview will be available for Year 7.)
The 471 Interview can be used by individual schools or libraries and by school districts and library systems that have less than 25 sites, with no separate administrative buildings, and with no new buildings under construction). It cannot be used by consortia.
To try the new application platform, go to the "Apply Online" section of the SLD Web site (www.sl.universalservice.org) and click on the Form 471 "Interview" button. The one nice feature that I've found is that it pretty much eliminates the never-looked-at technology assessment questions at the beginning.
Some applicants will like it while others will prefer the original format. If you get part way through the interview (and has been assigned a Form 471 application number), the filing can be halted and resumed under the original system by using the Form 471 "Continue Incomplete" option.
A Form 471 Interview Filing Guide is available on the SLD Web site at
www.sl.universalservice.org/reference/471IntFilingGuide.asp.
Julie Tritt Schell
jtschell@comcast.net
(717) 730.7133 (voice)
(717) 730.9060 (fax)
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