[OPLINLIST] Fwd: SL News Brief SPECIAL EDITION - FY 2018 Application Filing Window Opens January 11, 2018

[Mandy Knapp]

Hello all--

An important message about the eRate 471 file window below.

Best,
Mandy Knapp
Digital Resources Manager
Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN)
Phone:  614-728-5252
Fax:  614 -728 -5256

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: SL News Brief <NoReply at usac.org>
Date: Thu, Dec 14, 2017 at 4:32 PM
Subject: SL News Brief SPECIAL EDITION - FY 2018 Application Filing Window
Opens January 11, 2018
To: mandy at oplin.ohio.gov


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*December 14, 2017*

*E-rate Funding Year 2018 Application Filing Window Opens January 11, 2018*

Dear E-rate Participant:

I am pleased to announce the Funding Year (FY) 2018 FCC Form 471
application filing window opens Thursday, January 11, 2018, at 12:00 noon
EST and closes on Thursday, March 22, 2018, at 11:59 PM EDT. This filing
window is more in keeping with those used in prior funding years.

Applicants can begin preparing now for the successful filing of their FY
2018 funding applications by taking the following steps:

   - *Install Browser Updates:* Google Chrome is the preferred browser for
   EPC, but no matter which browser you use, be sure the latest version is
   installed on your computer.


   - *Establish Account and User Rights:* If this is your first year
   participating in the E-rate program, call our Client Service Bureau at
   888-203-8100 <(888)%20203-8100> to create your account in the E-rate
   Productivity Center (EPC). If you already have an EPC account, log in and
   review, update and/or assign user *rights* for persons who will need
   access for FY 2018.


   - *Update Your EPC Profile Now:* To ensure a smoother filing process, *EPC
   profiles will lock on January 10, 2018, at 11:59 PM EST. *You will not
   be able to make changes to your EPC profile after that date. So, please log
   in to your EPC account now to make any necessary changes to your profile.
   Specifically, you should:

   - Ensure that the entity type for each of your schools, libraries, and
      non-instructional facilities (NIFs) is accurate.
      - Confirm the names and addresses for all of your entities and NIFs,
      and let USAC know if any have closed or if you expect to add any new
      entities for the upcoming funding year.
      - Schools should carefully review their student counts, including
      National School Lunch Program (NSLP) information.
      - Libraries should confirm their square footage, as well as the
      school district in which their main branch is located.
      - All applicants should review the "Connectivity" questions in their
      profile if they have made changes to their network or have a different
      opinion on the sufficiency of their network.

Note that USAC has already updated EPC profiles with the data from approved
FY 2017 applications, so you may notice some updated information when you
log in to your account.


   - *Proceed With Competitive Bidding:* If you have not started the
   competitive bidding process by filing your FCC Form 470, please begin now.
   Remember that you must wait 28 days after filing the FCC Form 470 before
   entering into an agreement and filing your application. Waiting for the
   filing window to open is not necessary. USAC's website at
   http://www.usac.org/sl/applicants/step01/default.aspx
   <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=54941870&msgid=200060&act=P2Z0&c=1535322&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usac.org%2Fsl%2Fapplicants%2Fstep01%2Fdefault.aspx>
   provides step-by-step instructions for completing the FCC Form 470 and
   conducting the competitive bid process.

As always, representatives at USAC’s Client Service Bureau are available to
help you at 888-203-8100 <(888)%20203-8100>. Alternatively, you can also
open a customer service case in EPC to receive assistance.

This will be the 20th application filing window for the E-rate program, and
I have had the honor of working with many of you since the first filing
window opening in 1998 – some since the beginning and others more recently.
During this time, we have faced many challenges, but we have always worked
together and found solutions. Looking ahead, you should continue to expect
us to solicit your candid feedback and insights. In 2018, we plan to
regularly request your ideas for ways in which we can improve our E-rate
information technology systems and program participant trainings, including
topics that you would like to see addressed in our face-to-face trainings
and webinars. Although we cannot always accommodate every request, we will
carefully consider all of your feedback.

Like all of my colleagues at USAC, I know that you share my passion to
ensure that students and library patrons across the country have access to
the broadband connections they need. I am excited to be working with all of
you in my new role leading the E-rate program, and you have my full
commitment that USAC will continue to administer the E-rate program in a
way that benefits from your participation and feedback.

Sincerely,

Catriona Ayer
Acting Vice President, Schools and Libraries Division


*Contact Us!*

If you need assistance, please contact the Client Service Bureau (CSB) at (888)
203-8100.




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