January 30, 2018<\/p>\n
Attached:\u00a0Form 471 Category 1 Filing Guide FY 2018<\/a><\/p>\n ~ Very few changes for FY 2018\u2019s Form 471 ~ Congratulations to the 82 PA schools and libraries that have already filed their FY 2018 Form 471s!\u00a0 For the 900+ applicants that haven\u2019t yet filed, there are only 51 days left to do so before the March 22, 2018 deadline.\u00a0 I also just heard that PIA started reviewing applications last week (!!!), so don\u2019t delay in submitting so you can be in the first wave(s)!<\/p>\n CATEGORY 1 FILING GUIDE<\/strong><\/p>\n Attached you will find a helpful Form 471 Filing Guide for Category 1 Services.\u00a0 It contains 112 slides, providing screenshots and hints\/answers to each question related to three different types of funding requests as follows:<\/p>\n WHAT\u2019S NEW ON THE FY 2018 FORM 471<\/strong><\/p>\n The FY 2018 Form 471 contains very minor changes from last year\u2019s form, and they are as follows:<\/p>\n Note:\u00a0\u00a0 Category 1 services can be installed prior to July 1 so they are able to be \u201cturned on\u201d beginning July 1.\u00a0 You would still list 7\/1\/2018 as the SSD. — If the Form 470 has not been posted for at least 28 days, you will not be able to cite the form. \u00a0If it is the form you wish to cite, you must wait until 28 days have passed after the form was certified before you can cite it. Remember that you cannot select your service provider or sign a contract until at least the 29th\u00a0day after the Form 470 was posted.\u00a0 (Note, also, that if you are creating a Contract Record in EPC, you cannot cite a Form 470 that has not been posted for at least 28 days.)<\/p>\n — If the Form 470 posts for a service type (Voice, Internet Access and\/or Telecommunications, Internal Connections, Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections, or Managed Internal Broadband Services) that is different from the service type you are requesting on an FRN, you will not be able to cite to that FCC Form 470. If you are filing your Form 470 now and you are not sure which of two service types is the correct one to use to list your services, list your services under both service types and put a note in the narrative that you are not looking for duplicative services, but that you have included your information in both service types.<\/p>\n HELPFUL HINTS FOR FILING THE FORM 471<\/p>\n This is NOT a USAC requirement, but based on what I saw during FY 2017 PIA reviews, smaller applications were funded faster.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t take much extra time to create a new 471 — just a few extra clicks.\u00a0 If you\u2019ve already filed multiple FRNs on a single 471, that\u2019s ok!\u00a0 But if you haven\u2019t yet filed, you may want to consider \u201cflattening\u201d your application into several smaller ones.\u00a0 (Note:\u00a0 the exception to this advice is if you\u2019re filing for leased dark fiber or special provisioned fiber, in which case all related FRNs must be listed on the same 471.)<\/p>\n Although it’s easy to figure out how to “Add an FRN,” creating the Line Items under that FRN to actually describe the services\/equipment and specify the amount of funding requested is a little confusing.\u00a0 After you’ve created an FRN, click on the FRN number in blue (it’s hyperlinked) and a page will appear asking if you want to “Add New FRN Line Item.”\u00a0 Continue adding Line Items for that FRN until you’ve built your FRN.\u00a0 For example, if you’re requesting funding a Lit Fiber WAN, if you have 1 – 10 GB connection, 6 \u2013 1 GB connections, and taxes, you will have 1 FRN with 3 FRN Line Items, identifying the unique speed, costs and recipients of each Line Item; and the total taxes for the entire service.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When you create an FRN in the 471, the system asks if it’s based on a contracted service or MTM service.\u00a0 If you choose Contract, the system will ask which contract you want to associate with that FRN.\u00a0 If you forgot to create your Contract Record in the EPC Contract Module prior to starting the 471, no worries – add them now.\u00a0 In a separate tab, go to your Landing Page > Name of your District > Contracts > Manage Contracts > Add a Contract.\u00a0 Then create a Contract Record for each separate contract you have (both C1 and C2).\u00a0 Reminder, you’re not required to upload copies of your contracts, but I strongly suggest you at least upload your Category 2 contracts.\u00a0\u00a0 If you use the Copy FRN feature, your contract will still be linked from last year and doesn\u2019t need linked again. (For help creating Contract Records, see https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=24081<\/a>.)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When you’re in the FRN Line Item page, instead of clicking on the green “Add New FRN Line Item,” click on the “Continue” button at the bottom right of the page.\u00a0 That will take you back to the Main FRN page where you will find all of the FRNs you’ve created. \u00a0To get back into the FRN Line Item(s) for a single FRN, click on the blue FRN number (it’s hyperlinked).<\/p>\n If you click on something that takes you out of the 471, or if you deliberately leave the 471, it’s easy to return where you left off.\u00a0 Simply go to your EPC Landing Page by clicking on the USAC Logo, and then under “My Tasks” click on the appropriate “FCC Form 471 – #18xxxxxxxx {Nickname You Gave the Form}.”<\/p>\n If you get to the end of the 471 (congratulations!) and you see a message saying your Connectivity Questions are incomplete, it likely means you\u2019ve added a new school and forgot to answer their Connectivity Questions in EPC prior to starting the 471.\u00a0 Or you may see Connectivity Data and want to update the data.\u00a0 Simply return to your EPC Landing Page (click on the USAC Logo), > Name of School\/Library > Related Actions > Manage Connectivity Questions.\u00a0 After you’ve updated the data and then completed each school’s Connectivity Questionnaire, return to the 471 (see #8) and your Connectivity Answers will now show on the last page of the form.\u00a0 (For help answering the Connectivity Questions, see https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=24001<\/a>.)<\/p>\n This is truly one of the most confusing pieces of filing the 471.\u00a0 After you click “Review FCC Form 471,” the screen goes blank for a second, and then returns you to EPC.\u00a0 YOU HAVE NOT YET SUBMITTED YOUR FORM.\u00a0 Wait 15 seconds, refresh your browser, and under “My Tasks” on your EPC Landing Page you will see a task entitled “Review PDF for FCC Form 471 – #18xxxxxxxxx {Nickname You Gave the Form}.\u00a0 Click on this task, and you will be taken back to the 471 and given the opportunity to review a PDF of your draft 471.\u00a0 If you have no changes, check the small certification box, then “Continue to Certification.”\u00a0 If you do have changes, click on “Edit Form” in the bottom left corner of the screen to return to the 471.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Whenever possible, don\u2019t click this button!\u00a0 The draft 471 is then taken from your EPC profile and a message is sent to all other “users” associated with the organization asking if they want to “accept the task.”\u00a0 Only ever use the “Save and Share” feature if you truly want to “pass the ball” to another user to finish or certify the application.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On the final Certification Page, there are two questions asking if you received any funds from a service provider or if a service provider has helped you locate funds.\u00a0 The answer to both of these questions should be NO.\u00a0 Essentially, they are asking if a service provider has waived any of your non-discounted amounts (your fair share), or given you funds to offset those amounts. Don’t be confused by the meaning of these questions or pause in anyway.\u00a0 The answers should always be NO.\u00a0 If a vendor does offer to waive your share or give you funds to cover it, cancel your contract with that vendor and go to the next lowest bid.<\/p>\n If you have any questions as you’re working through your Form 471, please don’t hesitate to e-mail me at jtschell@comcast.net<\/a>.<\/p>\n Happy filing!<\/p>\n — Julie<\/p>\n Julie Tritt Schell Penn*link<\/p>\n\n
\n~ PIA already reviewing submitted 471s! ~
\n~ Helpful hints below ~<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\nCategory 2 equipment can be installed as early as April 1, 2018.\u00a0 You would still list 7\/1\/2018 as the SSD (this is changed from last year).<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\nPA E-rate Coordinator
\n717-730-7133 – o
\n717-730-9060 – f
\njtschell@comcast.net<\/a>
\nwww.e-ratepa.org<\/a><\/p>\n