Year 9 Form 486 Now Available
Message Posted May 16, 2006
For the 302 PA schools and libraries that have been funded in Year 9, waves 1-4, the next step is to file the Form 486. This form was not initially available, but is now online. I encourage you to file this form now before you forget and so, if you want discounted bills, those discounts can begin with your July statement. Please keep in mind that only FRNs that have been funded can be listed on a Form 486. If your application is still pending, you must wait until it has been approved before filing the Form 486. Below are general and specific tips to help you complete the form.
The Form 486 has 3 functions:
1) It informs the SLD that they are authorized to pay invoices (either BEAR or SPIFs);
2) It informs the SLD that your technology plan has been approved and tells them the name of the SLD-certified approver; and
3) It informs the SLD that your school or library is CIPA compliant.
General Tips for Filing the Form 486
1) If your technology plan has not yet been approved by PDE or other certified approver, you may not file the 486 until it has been approved.
2) For applicants requesting discounted bills this year, the service provider must receive a copy of the 486 approval letter before they can begin discounting your bills. So the sooner you file this form, the better.
3) The 486 should be filed electronically under the "apply online" section of the SLD's website at http://www.sl.universalservice.org/menu.asp. Hint: The Form 486 PDF typically works better than the Interview version.
4) Although the PDF version seems to skip around while you're completing it, in the end, all questions are answered and inserted into your form.
5) All of the information you need to complete the Form 486 is available on your Funding Commitment Decision Letter or your Year 9 Form 471. You'll need: Your Entity Number, 471 #s, FRN #s.
6) As with the Form 470 and 471, you can eCertify the Form 486 and I encourage you to do so. The only catch is that you should print a copy of the 486 AFTER you hit submit, but BEFORE you eCertify because after you eCertify, it doesn't permit you to go back to the form.
7) After the SLD receives your Form 486, they will mail you and your service provider a Form 486 Approval Letter for your files.
Specific Tips for Completing the Form 486
* Item 6A: If you file the 486 before the funding year begins on July 1, 2006 (and I strongly encourage you to do so), you MUST check item 6A (to signify early filing). If you file the 486 on or after July 1, then you can ignore this box.
* Items 6B and 6C: If you're CIPA compliant, you should skip boxes 6B and 6C.
* Item 7, Column F: Service Start Date should list 07/01/2006.
* Item 11A: If you are a single school, district or library (not a consortium), and you are CIPA compliant, you should only check 11A on that page.
If you have any questions as you are completing this form, please contact me at jtschell@comcast.net.
Happy Election Day!
-- Julie
Julie Tritt Schell
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org
(717) 730.7133 (voice)
(717) 730.9060 (fax)
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