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FY 2012 Eligible Services List and Form 471 Window
October 2, 2011
Last week the FCC approved the Funding Year 2012 E-rate Eligible Services List and unlike last year, the FY 2012 list contains no major changes --
only clarifications. A list of substantive clarifications contained in the
approved ESL, as well as general eligible services reminders, is below.
The FCC's adoption of the FY 2012 ESL paves the way for the USAC board to set the Form 471 Application Window dates, which are expected to be from
early January to mid-March. The Form 470 can be filed NOW at:
http://www.sl.universalservice.org/menu.asp
<http://www.sl.universalservice.org/menu.asp%20> (use the Create Form 470 format).
If you haven't already done so, please register for one of the upcoming E-rate trainings at: http://e-ratepa.org/training_outreach.htm.
Eligible Services Clarifications and Reminders:
1. Internet2: The only eligible service related Internet 2 is the
telecommunications transport service required to access Internet2.
Internet2 membership fees and any other Internet 2 services or fees are not
E-rate eligible.
2. Off-campus Internet Access: The ONLY off-campus Internet access or
data service that is E-rate eligible is for those limited applicants approved in the FCC's pilot "Learning-on-the-Go" initiative. If you receive E-rate discounts on cellular data services or mobile broadband (aircard) services, they may NOT be used off-campus.
3. Cellular and Data Services: Should be posted in both the Telecom
and Internet Access categories on the Form 470, but then can be combined under the Telecom category on the Form 471 for administrative convenience.
4. Firewall Services: Bundled Internet firewall services are eligible
only if provided at no extra charge by the applicant's Internet access provider. Stand-alone, separately-priced firewall services remain ineligible.
5. Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections: Beginning with FY 2011,
"warranty-type" basic maintenance agreements are no longer eligible. E-rate will provide discounts for software upgrade and patches, bug fixes and security patches, and online and telephone based technical support.
Applicants wishing to obtain E-rate discounts on break/fix and maintenance services can estimate the cost of work to be performed based on hours/year, history of repairs and equipment age (estimates may not be the full cost of the equipment) on their Form 471, but USAC will only reimburse for actual work performed under the contract. In preparing these basic maintenance contracts, applicants and vendors should remember that contracts must include the eligible components covered, including make, model and location of the equipment.
6. Leased Dark Fiber: The lease of dark fiber is eligible and may be
provided by either a telecom or non-telecom provider. The applicant must provide the modulating electronics and the fiber must be lit immediately (cannot lease excess capacity for future growth). Installation costs are eligible, but only from the school building to the edge of the school property line. Special construction costs or installation costs (costs beyond the school property line) are not eligible. The cost of the modulating electronics is not eligible for P1 discounts.
If you have any questions about eligible services, please don't hesitate to contact me at jtschell@comcast.net.
Julie Tritt Schell
PA E-rate Coordinator
717-730-7133 - o
717-730-9060 - f
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org
Penn*link
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