E-rate Updates – Schedule/Templates/Training

January 30, 2015

Are You on Schedule for Category 1?  If you are one of the 86 school districts (listed below) that haven’t yet filed your FY 2015 Category 1 Form 470, please do so ASAP!  If you will not be submitting a Form 470 because you are under a multi-year contract or have opted not to apply for MTM services (such as cell phone) this year, please let me know so I can take your name off the list.

Are You Applying for Category 2?  If you will not be using the PEPPM contract and have decided to file your own 470 (and do an RFP and bid it in the local newspapers if you are a public school entity and the purchase price is over $19,400), you should file the Form 470 ASAP because you must obtain board approval and sign your contract prior to submitting the Form 471.  If you will be using PEPPM, I encourage you to issue your PEPPM mini-bids in the next two weeks in order to give yourself enough time to complete the Form 471.  PEPPM filing information is available at:  https://e-ratepa.org/?p=6171.

Form 471 Block 4 Template:  The optional Block 4 template is easy (easier than inserting the data directly into the online 471) and I encourage you to use it.  Note that only 5 columns are actually required (there’s a spreadsheet attached showing which are required columns).  NCES codes and State ID numbers are not required (however the State ID numbers are in the PDE NSLP file if you want to insert them: https://e-ratepa.org/?p=6331).  The templates are available at:  http://www.usac.org/sl/tools/forms/471-templates.aspx

Form 471 Block 5 Template:  For Category 1 services, I don’t think it makes much sense to use Block 5 template.  For Category 2 equipment/services, the templates will be very useful if you’re applying for more than just a few pieces of equipment.

Form 471 Training:  Many of you asked when I will be conducting Form 471 training.  The first training will occur during the 3-hour pre-conference workshop at PETE&C. Details for this workshop are available at:  https://e-ratepa.org/?p=5891 if you would like to attend.  I will be making an announcement shortly on a separate Form 471 webinar that likely will occur during the week of February 16.

USAC Form 471 Online Tutorials and Filing Guidance:  USAC has begun to post online mini-tutorials as well as written filing guidance with screen shots on their E-rate Modernization Page.  http://www.usac.org/sl/tools/modernization-order/default.aspx.  So far, guidance appears to go up through Block 4.

More updates to come!  Happy Filing!

Districts that Have Not Filed a Form 470

— Julie

Julie Tritt Schell

PA E-rate Coordinator

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

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