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<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:black">Hi all,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic","sans-serif";color:black">A message from Lorrie Germann, State eRate Coordinator:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Good Morning E-Rate Community,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The deadline for filing Form 471 applications for FY 2015, the next funding year, is
<b>Thursday, April 16, at 11:59 p.m. EDT</b>. Applications completed after this deadline will be treated as being received outside the filing window and will not be funded (without a successful FCC waiver request).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">For applicants who wait until Thursday to submit their Form 471s, here are a few suggestions:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Historically, USAC’s online filing system has become overloaded during the last day or two. This is a new system this year, so more problems than usual would not be unexpected. If last-minute problems are experienced with the
SLD’s online data entry system, it is important to document that the filing had been in process when the problems developed. In particular:</span>
<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="a">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Periodic screen printouts are recommended — particularly of the screen that appears early in the filing process displaying the Form 471 number and security code. It is also important to call the SLD’s help line (888-203-8100)
to report problems. The help line will remain open one-half hour past the <a name="OLE_LINK9">
</a><a name="OLE_LINK8"></a>11:59 p.m. EDT deadline. If you call with a filing problem, make sure you retain the assigned Case Number.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:4.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Clearing your cache is particularly important if working on more than one application.
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:4.0pt;text-align:justify;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo1">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt">Use one of the recommended browsers. USAC’s official advice is to use Internet Explorer versions 9 or 10 or the most current version of Firefox or Chrome if you have a Windows operating system. If you are using a Mac, use the
most current version of Safari.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo1"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Use the “Review Application” feature before submitting your application. In some cases it is necessary to expand the four sections of the application in
the review mode before the “Submit Application” button can be activated.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol>
</li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="2" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Remember that all Form 471s should be certified by the deadline. If the application is not certified online using a PIN, the certification must be printed
out, signed and dated, and submitted by the deadline. If the application is submitted online and on time, but not certified, USAC has historically provided a reminder and a second chance to do so. If at all possible, please do not rely on this second chance
as it will delay application review.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="3" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">When mailing a Form 471 certification to the SLD, document the postmark date. If using an express mailing service (e.g., FedEx), the electronic pickup date
in the tracking system serves as the “postmark.” Make sure you know the time of the latest express mail pickup in your area.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">If using the U.S. Postal Service, use certified mail and make sure the certification is time-stamped before the 11:59 p.m. EDT deadline.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Alternatively, a
<b>Form 471 certification may be faxed to the SLD at 888‑276-8736</b>. If a fax is used, make sure to print and retain a time- and date-stamped fax confirmation report showing the successful transmission of all three pages.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ol style="margin-top:0in" start="4" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo4"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Any Form 470 referenced in a Form 471 must also be signed and certified to be valid. Applicants who filed a Form 470 online a month or two ago, but who
did not electronically certify it online, should make sure that their paper certification pages have been submitted.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">The easiest way to confirm that a specific Form 470 has been certified is to use the
<a href="http://www.slforms.universalservice.org/Form470Expert/Search_FundYear_Select.aspx">
Form 470 Search Posted</a> feature on the SLD website. The first section of a posted Form 470 should show a Certification Received Date. If this field is blank, and you just mailed the certification, make sure that you can document the postmark date. If
you mailed the certification a while ago, and the field is still blank, you should resubmit it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you have questions, or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will be available 7:00 am – 10:00pm today and tomorrow, and 7:00am – 12:00am on Thursday.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lorrie<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Monotype Corsiva";color:#1F497D">Lorrie Germann</span></b><span style="color:#1F497D"><br>
</span><i><span style="font-size:13.0pt;color:#1F497D">State E-Rate Coordinator</span></i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D">Office of Information Technology<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">25 South Front Street |
</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:#1F497D">Mail Stop 619 </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">| Columbus, Ohio 43215-4183</span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">614.466.3413<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">614.406.4398 Cell<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><a href="mailto:lorrie.germann@education.ohio.gov"><span style="color:blue">lorrie.germann@education.ohio.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><a href="http://education.ohio.gov/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDefaultPage.aspx?page=1"><span style="color:blue">education.ohio.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><img border="0" width="504" height="39" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.gif@01D0769A.744A4550" alt="http://intranet2/PublishingImages/ODE_Signature_image.gif"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">PLEASE NOTE: This message and any response to it may constitute a public record, and therefore may be available upon request in accordance with Ohio public records law.
(ORC 149.43) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<pre><o:p> </o:p></pre>
<pre>---<o:p></o:p></pre>
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