Pointers Going Into the Form 471 Home Stretch

May 20, 2016

We’re just six days away from the FY 2016 Form 471 filing deadline for schools and school districts and I can feel the excitement!  Here are some last minute tips based on the questions I’ve been receiving:

  • Some applicants are receiving system errors when creating PDFs of their draft 471s.  USAC is aware of this problem and working hard to fix it.
  • If you receive other system errors, let me know right away, and also call CSB at 888-203-8100 to memorialize it in your EPC file.
  • If you get stuck, refer to this document:  https://e-ratepa.org/?p=12841.  I can almost guarantee you that your problem and the solution are included in this document.  The most common one relates to the Connectivity Questions (#9).
  • Be sure not to list quantity of 1 for WAN circuits and phones (if you have more than 1 line).  The form specifically requires you to list the cost/line or cost/circuit.  Internet, however, would be a quantity of 1.  For example, if you have 25 phone lines and your total bill is $1200, you would list $48/month and quantity of 25.  If you list a quantity of 1, you will receive a PIA inquiry telling you to break it out.
  • On the Certification page, be sure not to list $0 where it asks how much you plan to spend on technology next year.  Just list the amount of your technology budget.
  • Also on the Certification page, be sure to choose No and No under the certifications.
  • If you’re applying for cellular service that contains data plans, select Cellular Voice in the drop down menu, and then do a cost allocation on the 471.  List the total amount/line, then the ineligible amount (for data and text messaging) per line, then the total # of lines.  We’re finding that where applicants listed Cellular Voice with Data Plans, even where an amount was entered as ineligible, PIA interprets this to mean that you’re requesting E-rate discounts on cellular data, which we know is almost always ineligible.

As of today, here is a status of PA’s 471 filings:

Applicants:           689

471s:                    1225

FRNs:                    2557

Need help?  I’ve compiled all of my helpful guides on a single page in the PA E-rate website: https://e-ratepa.org/?page_id=754.  There you will find links to the following materials:

EPC:

Form 471:

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need help!

— Julie

Julie Tritt Schell

PA E-rate Coordinator

717-730-7133 – o
717-730-9060 – f
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org

penn*link

Site designed and maintained by Silver Penny Studio