Back-to-School 2010 E-rate Update
Message Posted August 26, 2010
Happy Back-To-School, E-raters! I wanted to take this opportunity to provide you with an E-rate update on several pending issues:
PQA - A new mini-audit initiative has been launched by USAC called the Payment Quality Assurance (PQA) assessment program designed to gather specific information from applicants in order to calculate the rate of improper payments. Information on PQA was sent to the PA E-rate listserve last week (http://www.e-ratepa.org/Listserve-Archive/2010/08-18-10.htm). So far, I know of two PA applicants that have been selected -- one IU and one small District (for an $85 invoice). If you're selected, please let me know and know I am available to help if needed.
eFund/E-rate - The State eFund Grant guidelines were released on August 12 (see http://www.e-ratepa.org/Listserve-Archive/2010/08-16-10.htm) and are due on October 29, 2010. I've received several questions since the eFund guidelines were released about the difference between eFund and E-rate and want to clarify that eFund is a Pennsylvania Department of Education competitive grant that funds network infrastructure and equipment, telecommunications services, distance learning initiatives, and technical support services. FY 2010 is the final year for the eFund initiative. E-rate, on the other hand, is a federal discount initiative (not competitive grant) that provides funding for network infrastructure, telecommunications services and Internet access. E-rate has no ending date.
Broadband Summit - The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is hosting a free, two-day statewide Broadband Summit in Camp Hill (near Harrisburg) on September 20-21, 2010. The aim of the Summit is to advance the broadband agenda in PA by convening a forum to: (1) Begin a sustainable dialogue among broadband providers, users and government organizations; (2) Determine what broadband challenges exist, and how to best approach them in a coordinated fashion; and (3) Provide a shared learning opportunity to identify and leverage broadband best practices across state. Of course, E-rate will be discussed! Information and registration details can be found at: www.programs.psu.edu/BroadbandSummit.
Update on New CIPA Requirements - In October 2008, Congress passed the "Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act," which contained a provision requiring schools' Internet Safety Policies to include "... educating minors about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms and cyberbullying awareness and response." Essentially this means that schools will be required to teach online safety to students as a prerequisite to receiving E-rate funding. Although the law is nearly two years old, the FCC has not yet released the official Order that will implement the new requirements and set deadlines for compliance. I believe that the Order, when released, will have the new provisions begin July 2011. In the meantime, we do recommend that if you are currently writing or rewriting your Internet Safety Policy, be sure to include this new provision. In addition, your school should be thinking about how you will actually implement the new law when it does become effective, if you aren't providing such online behavior education already. (Libraries are exempt from the new provision.)
E-rate NPRM - In May the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) specifically related to the E-rate recommendations contained in the National Broadband Plan that was released in mid-March. Details of the NPRM are available at: http://www.e-ratepa.org/Listserve-Archive/2010/05-20-10.htm. Comments and reply comments were submitted by dozens of interested stakeholders over the summer and the FCC is slated to released the E-rate Reform Order on September 23, 2010. Stay tuned for what could bring the largest changes to the E-rate program do date.
E-rate Beginners and Advanced Training - Because of the program changes that will be announced at the end of September, E-rate training will be slightly later than normal this year. Exact locations and dates have not yet been established, but Advanced Training is likely to be held in October and Beginners' Training will be held statewide in November.
Funding Year 2011 (7/1/2011 - 6/30/2012) - The FY 2011 Form 470 is now available and ready for use! Although the Form 471 application window dates have not yet been set, it's not too early to begin the competitive bidding process for your E-rate eligible services by posting a Form 470. A separate, detailed message will be sent about how to file the Form 470 (and if you're unsure how to complete this form, I encourage you to file after you've been to Beginners' Training). Don't forget, you must have a written, dated technology plan prepared before you can file the Form 470 (the plan does not need to be approved until July 1).
Funding Year 2010 (7/1/2010 - 6/30/2011) - The FY 2010 funding waves are up to wave 14, and so far, Pennsylvania schools and libraries have received approx. $43 million in funding commitments. If you haven't yet been funded, don't worry. There will be many, many more waves to come. If you have been funded, don't forget to file the Form 486 to turn-on funding (specific list of late filers will be sent in October). Priority 2 applications are being funded at the 90% level so far, but thanks to the $900 million in rollover funds, funding likely will reach at least the 80% discount applications.
Funding Year 2009 (7/1/2009 - 7/1/2010) - The FY 2009 funding waves are up to wave 64, and so far, Pennsylvania schools and libraries have received approx. $93 million in funding commitments. Priority 2 applications will be funded down to the 77% level. For those applicants that did NOT receive discounted bills during FY 2009, the deadline to submit the Form 472 BEAR to collect reimbursement funding is October 28, 2010. Information on filing the BEAR is available at: http://www.e-ratepa.org/Listserve-Archive/2010/07-19-10.htm. Specific information for filing the Online BEAR is available at: http://www.e-ratepa.org/Listserve-Archive/2010/07-29-10.htm. A message will be sent to the listserve in October listing those entities that still have funding remaining.
As always, if you have any questions, please contact me at jtschell@comcast.net.
-Julie
717-730-7133 - o
717-730-9060 - f
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org
Penn*link
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