[OPLINLIST] E-Rate Updates from eTech Ohio

[Missy Lodge]

Lorrie Germann, eTech Ohio and State E-Rate Coordinator is passing on
the following news and information to the Ohio library community:

 

Workshops

OPLIN, in collaboration with the State Library is again working with
eTech Ohio to provide E-Rate workshops to Ohio public libraries.  The
Form 470 workshop will be held October 28 and the Form 471 workshop will
be held on December 14.  You can register for the workshops through the
WebJunction Ohio events calendar at:
http://host6.evanced.info/ohio/evanced/eventcalendar.asp 

 

 

FY 2008 - FY 2010 Funding Status

The 2009 funding year is progressing.  Wave 16 for FY 2009 is scheduled
to be released on Tuesday, August 11th..  Although USAC is still only
funding Priority 1 services for FY 2009 in this wave, the SLD has
indicated that it is ready to begin Priority 2 funding at the 90% level
- as early as next week - if the FCC approves.  Due to a computer system
upgrade, a brief hiatus in FY 2009 funding waves is expected in late
August and early September, discussed below.

 

Wave 64 for FY 2008 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, August
12th.  Total funding for FY 2008 is now $2.34 billion.  A decision has
still not been made on the funding of Priority 2 services at 87%.

 

Early indications from the SLD are that the Form 471 filing window for
FY 2010 - assuming no major IT cutover problems (and timely FCC release
of the Eligible Services List for FY 2010) - will again run from early
December to early February.  Applicants planning procurement initiatives
over the next month should note that Form 470s will not be able to be
filed during the IT cutover.

 

Deadline Reminders

 

FY 2009 Form 486 - must be postmarked no later than:

*         120 days after the Service Start Date featured on the Form
486, or 

*         120 days after the date of the Funding Commitment Decision
Letter, whichever is later.

FY 2008 Form 472 (BEAR) - must be postmarked no later than:

*         120 days after the last date to receive service, or 

*         120 days after the date of the Form 486 Notification Letter,
whichever is later. 

SLD Computer System Cutover

Later this month, the computer systems that support SLD operations will
be moved from New Jersey to Virginia.  While the move is in process,
most online form filing systems and databases currently accessible via
the SLD Web site will be unavailable to applicants, service providers,
and even the SLD itself.  The transition is expected to take 2-3 weeks,
and will be formally announced about a week before the cutover.

 

The following important consequences of the cutover period should be
carefully noted:

 

1.       Form 470s cannot be filed online or, if submitted in paper
form, be data entered by the SLD.  If an applicant plans to issue an RFP
over the next few weeks, they should file the associated Form 470 now.
The Form 470 will show an Allowable Contract Date of 28 days after its
posting, but the applicant must make sure that the later-filed RFP
remains open for a full 28 days after its issuance.

2.       USAC will not be able to issue funding waves for FY 2009
applications during the cutover period, although it may be able to
release smaller waves for earlier funding years.  Although PIA may be
able to continue limited work on Form 471 applications throughout the
cutover, PIA's inability to access SLD databases may hinder the process.

3.       Applicant and service provider invoices (Form 472 BEARs and
Form 474 SPIs) will not be able to be filed online, nor will paper
invoices be data entered.  The cutover is not expected to affect the
October 28th deadline for submitting invoices for FY 2008 recurring
services.

4.       Form 486s will not be able to be filed online or be data
entered if submitted in paper form.  Applicants already funded for FY
2009, seeking discounted service provider billing, should file their
Form 486s now - preferably online.

5.       Many, if not all, of the  SLD's online search tools -
commitments, data retrieval tool, entity numbers, service provider
contacts - will not be available.  

6.       The SLD's online Submit a Question facility will be inoperable.
The Client Service Bureau will remain in operation and may be reached by
telephone (888-203-8100), but may not be able to answer certain
questions requiring database access.  The Reference Area on the SLD Web
site will remain available.

 

The system transition is designed to expand the data handling
capabilities, improve reliability, and provide greater flexibility for
future system enhancements.

 

 

Missy Lodge

Head, Library Programs and Development

614.644.6914

800.686.1532 (Ohio only)

614.466.3584 (fax)

http://library.ohio.gov

The State Library of Ohio provides services and resources to assist
state government and libraries in providing the best service to all.

 
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