{"id":33555,"date":"2021-08-17T14:00:55","date_gmt":"2021-08-17T14:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/e-ratepaorg.local\/?p=33555"},"modified":"2022-05-12T14:45:59","modified_gmt":"2022-05-12T14:45:59","slug":"ecf-unmet-needs-documentation-guidanceexamples-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/e-ratepa.org\/?p=33555","title":{"rendered":"ECF Unmet Needs Documentation Guidance\/Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"

August 17, 2021<\/span><\/p>\n

Attached:\u00a0Unmet Needs Library Patron Certification<\/a>\u00a0(updated for ACP)<\/p>\n

Attached:\u00a0Unmet Needs Teacher Certification<\/a><\/p>\n

Attached:\u00a0\u00a0Unmet Needs Parent Certification<\/a><\/p>\n

The FCC allowed schools and libraries to use \u2018reasonable estimates\u2019 when determining what to request on their ECF Form 471, but the rules are different at the ECF reimbursement stage.\u00a0 At this stage \u2013 whether you or your vendor are invoicing ECF \u2013 you must have documentation of unmet need for each student, teacher or library patron that is receiving ECF-supported Connected Devices and\/or internet access.\u00a0 We are conferring with the FCC to gather\u00a0official<\/em>\u00a0guidance related to the documentation requirements, but because so many of you already have purchased and will be handing out devices and wi-fi hotspots in the next few days, I want to provide you with my best educated, yet unofficial advice related to this documentation.<\/p>\n

Also, I\u2019ve created the attached sample\u00a0Unmet Needs Certification Statements<\/strong>\u00a0for parents, teachers and library patrons that you can modify to meet your specific needs or incorporate into your back-to-school data-gathering requirements.<\/p>\n

Schools<\/strong>:\u00a0 Generally, a school must have documentation of unmet need to support their ECF reimbursement request (with two exceptions as listed below).\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0The evidence could be:<\/p>\n

a)<\/strong> A signed statement certifying the unmet need of the student or teacher.\u00a0 The statement must be signed by an authorized person (parent, legal guardian in the case of a student, or for devices assigned to teachers, the teachers\u2019 signature).\u00a0 Sample statements are attached.\u00a0 Or,
\nb)<\/strong> A survey response stating the student or teacher has an unmet need.\u00a0 If a school already conducted a survey, then a signed statement is not mandatory but is recommended as a best practice.<\/p>\n

Libraries<\/strong>: Libraries are\u00a0required<\/em>\u00a0to distribute an Eligible Use Policy and obtain a signed statement of unmet need from each library patron that checks-out a connected device or Wi-Fi hotspot.\u00a0 Attached is a sample certification statement that can be used or language that can be incorporated into your online checkout systems.<\/p>\n