June 4, 2015<\/p>\n
E-rate rules require vendors to provide applicants with the choice of receiving discounted bills from their vendors (called the SPI process) or paying their bills in full each month and then obtaining reimbursement using the BEAR Form 472.\u00a0 Applicants may choose a different discount\/reimbursement method for each FRN, but once the choice has been made and either a service provider invoice or BEAR invoice has been submitted to USAC for payment, that method of discounting must be continued for the remainder of the funding year.<\/p>\n
For applicants that would like discounted bills, most companies require applicants to formally request such discounts each year.\u00a0 Although discounted bills cannot begin until the applicant receives their Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL), files their Form 486, and the service provider receives a copy of the Form 486 approval letter from USAC, applicants can and should submit their requests for discounted bills to each company as soon as possible so discounted billing can begin as early as possible in the funding year.\u00a0 \u00a0Please note that Verizon Wireless requires requests for discounted bills to be submitted before June 12!<\/p>\n
Each company has different requirements for requesting discounted bills. Some companies just require an e-mail or phone call.\u00a0 Other companies require you to complete an online form or paper form specifying which account numbers should be discounted.\u00a0 In order to make that process as easy as possible, I’ve compiled below a list of the most-used vendors in PA and the method to request discounted bills for that company.\u00a0 If there are any I’ve missed, please let me know and I’ll continue to expand the list and post it to the PA E-rate website.\u00a0 Where I have copies of vendors’ forms, I’ve attached them to this message<\/a>.<\/p>\n Don’t forget, if you want discounted bills, file the Form 486 immediately after you receive your FCDL!\u00a0 Please let me know if you have any questions.<\/p>\n