[OPLINLIST] E-Rate update concerning 2009 funding

[Missy Lodge]

To libraries who have applied for 2009-2010 E-Rate funding:

USAC has begun issuing Funding Commitment Letters for 2009.  That means
applicants may be able to file their Form 486 early.  Form 486 notifies
USAC that invoices can be paid, provides the name(s) of the
USAC-certified Technology Plan Approver(s) that approved the appropriate
technology plans, and certifies the status under the Children's Internet
Protection Act (CIPA).

Per the Schools and Libraries News Brief, the Form 486 can be filed
early - that is, before the start of services - under the following
conditions:

*	USAC has issued a positive commitment for a Funding Request
Number (FRN) on an FCDL,
*	The applicant has confirmed with the service provider featured
on the FRN that services will start in July (the first month of the
funding year),
*	The Form 486 is filed online or postmarked on or before July 31.

Filing a Form 486 early allows the service provider to provide - and the
applicant to receive - services promptly at the start of the funding
year. For services that are continuing from the previous funding year,
this early filing also helps prevent discounted services from being
interrupted.

Remember that when you file Form 486, you are providing information
about and certifying compliance with program rules relating to
technology planning and CIPA. As a reminder:

Technology planning requirements

Here are the basic requirements of a technology plan:

*	It must be created (written) before the Form 470 is filed. 
*	It must cover all 12 months of the funding year for which you
are applying. 
*	It must contain all five required elements (see below). 
*	It must be approved by a USAC-certified Technology Plan Approver
(TPA) before the Form 486 is filed or services start, whichever is
earlier. 
*	In general, it cannot cover more than three years. 

Furthermore, it is helpful if you place the creation date month and year
on your technology plan cover page. Remember that you are not required
to have a technology plan if you are seeking discounts only for basic
telephone service.

If you are filing Form 486 early, your technology plan must have been
approved on or before the date your Form 486 is filed. You also must be
prepared to provide the name of the organization that approved your
technology plan. 

CIPA requirements

In general, CIPA requires schools and libraries receiving discounts on
Internet Access, Internal Connections, and/or Basic Maintenance services
to certify that they are enforcing a policy of Internet safety that
includes measures to block or filter Internet access for both minors and
adults to certain visual depictions. 

To receive discounted services, your school or library authority must
certify that:

*	You are in compliance with CIPA, or 
*	You are undertaking actions to comply with CIPA, or 
*	CIPA does not apply because you are receiving discounts for
Telecommunications Services only. 

There are three basic requirements for CIPA: a technology protection
measure, an Internet safety policy, and a reasonable public notice and
public hearing on the policy.

In general, once you successfully file a Form 486 for a funding
commitment for Internet Access, Internal Connections, and/or Basic
Maintenance of Internal Connections, you must be in compliance with CIPA
at the beginning of the next funding year.

For detailed information on the requirements of CIPA compliance, you
should refer to the CIPA guidance on the USAC website
<http://www.usac.org/sl/applicants/step10/cipa.aspx?WT.mc_id=sl-newsbrie
f-20080529> . 

If you have any questions please contact me at mlodge at sloma.state.oh.us
or Lorrie Germann (eTech Ohio) at lorrie.Germann at etech.ohio.gov 

 

 

 

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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