[OPLINLIST] USAC's Schools and Libraries News Brief - Special Edition

Thu Dec 3 15:34:12 EST 2009

The SLD has sent out a special edition of their News Brief with key
information and dates regarding E-Rate Funding Year 2010.  Please review
this information and if you have any questions contact me (contact info.
below) or Lorrie Germann, State E-Rate Coordinator at
lorrie.germann at etech.ohio.gov or 614.485.6050.

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.

________________________________

From: SL News Brief [mailto:SLNewsBrief at lists.universalservice.org] 
Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 12:12 PM
To: Missy Lodge
Subject: USAC's Schools and Libraries News Brief - Special Edition

header <http://www.usac.org> 

Schools and Libraries News Brief - SPECIAL EDITION 

December 3, 2009 

FUNDING YEAR 2010 APPLICATION WINDOW OPENS TODAY

This Special Edition of the SL News Brief is to alert you that the
Funding Year 2010 (FY2010) application window opened at NOON EST today,
Thursday, December 3 and to give you some helpful tips for filing
applications. The application filing window will close at 11:59 PM EST
on Thursday, February 11, 2010.

FY2010 begins July 1, 2010 and ends June 30, 2011.

Program forms have not changed from last year. If you applied for FY2009
funding, Forms 470 and 471 should be familiar to you.

For FY2010, pay special attention to your Internal Connections requests.
The Two-in-Five Rule for Internal Connections
<http://usac.org/sl/applicants/step06/two-out-of-five-rule.aspx?WT.mc_id
=sl-newsbrief-20091203>  mandates that applicants can only receive
Internal Connections in two out of every five funding years. The
Two-in-Five tool
<http://www.usac.org/sl/tools/search-tools/two-in-five-tool.aspx?WT.mc_i
d=sl-newsbrief-20091203>  on our website will help you determine which
entities are eligible to receive funding for eligible Internal
Connections for FY2010.

We also encourage you to explore USAC's website
<http://www.usac.org/sl/?WT.mc_id=sl-newsbrief-20091203>  and to review
previous News Briefs
<http://www.usac.org/sl/tools/news-briefs/Default.aspx?WT.mc_id=sl-newsb
rief-20091203>  for important "do's and don'ts" in addition to the
helpful tips below.

Helpful Tips

File Early - We encourage applicants to file and certify Forms 470 and
471 and Item 21 attachments early in the window. Early filing allows
applicants time to:

*	Correct errors and avoid delays later during application review 
*	Meet Program deadlines  
*	File a new form if Program rules do not allow corrections to an
existing form  

File Online - USAC encourages applicants to file and certify Forms 470
and 471 online. Online filing
<http://www.sl.universalservice.org/menu.asp>  ensures that you meet
form Minimum Processing Standards and allows for early acknowledgment
and quicker decisions. Once you receive your PIN, you can certify
subsequent forms online.

Use the Online Item 21 Attachment - We cannot begin reviewing an
application until it is certified and we have the Item 21 attachments.
USAC's Online Item 21 Attachment
<http://www.slforms.universalservice.org/mfpin/EPDPublic/_item21/frmBenA
ppNumRequest.aspx>  tool can help you submit a complete and timely Item
21 attachment. It is designed to allow applicants to easily provide
complete and accurate information that is needed to review funding
requests.

Retain All Documents - Program rules require that you retain documents
for FIVE YEARS after the last day of service delivery to demonstrate
Program compliance.

Review Program Guidance Materials - Some information has been consistent
from year to year and other information has changed. Before you begin,
make sure to review all relevant Program guidance, including the
following:

Technology Planning
<http://www.usac.org/sl/applicants/step02/technology-planning/?WT.mc_id=
sl-newsbrief-20091203>  provides guidance on the technology planning
process. Your technology plan must be written before the Form 470 is
filed, must contain the five required elements, must cover all 12 months
of the funding year, and must be approved by a USAC-certified Technology
Plan Approver before the Form 486 is filed or services start, whichever
is earlier.

Competitive Bidding
<http://www.usac.org/sl/applicants/step03/run-open-fair-competition.aspx
?WT.mc_id=sl-newsbrief-20091203>  covers all aspects of the competitive
bidding process. Your competitive bidding process must be open and fair,
the price of the eligible goods and services must be the primary factor
in your evaluation, and you must document your service provider
selection process.

The FY2010 Eligible Services List
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-09-105A2.pdf>
provides specific details on eligible and ineligible products and
services. The Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(FCC 09-105)
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-09-105A1.pdf>
that released the Eligible Services List can be found on the FCC
website.

Contract Guidance
<http://www.universalservice.org/sl/applicants/step04/contract-guidance.
aspx?WT.mc_id=sl-newsbrief-20091203>  provides information on contracts,
including the specific situations that can arise when using a state
master or replacement contract. Remember that the applicant must sign
and date a contract prior to certifying the Form 471.

The Two-in-Five tool will help you determine which entities would be
eligible for funding under the Two-in-Five Rule for Internal Connections
<http://usac.org/sl/applicants/step06/two-out-of-five-rule.aspx?WT.mc_id
=sl-newsbrief-20091203> . This page also displays a chart that covers
2005 - when the rule went into effect - through 2014. The chart can help
to guide your funding request decisions.

Important Dates for FY2010

December 3, 2009 - The FY2010 Form 471 filing window opens at noon EST
and will remain open for 71 days.

January 14, 2010 - The last POSSIBLE date to post a Form 470 on USAC's
website, meet the 28-day posting requirement for the competitive bidding
process, and submit a complete Form 471 by the filing window closing
date.  

*	If you submit your Form 470 online, it is posted immediately.  
*	If you submit your Form 470 on paper, USAC will make every
effort to post it by January 14 if it is received on or before Thursday,
January 7, 2010.  

Note: Whether filing online or on paper, the applicant is responsible
for meeting the 28-day posting requirement.

February 11, 2010 - The FY2010 Form 471 filing window will close at
11:59 pm EST. For the Form 471 to be considered as filed within the
filing window, it must be submitted online, received by USAC, or
postmarked no later than the filing window closing date.

The following must also be submitted before USAC can review your
application: 

*	Form 471 Block 6 Certifications 
*	Form 470 Block 5 Certifications of any Form 470 cited in your
FY2010 Form 471 
*	Your Item 21 attachment(s). 

Ask for assistance. If you have questions, please contact our Client
Service Bureau as directed below. In addition to Program information,
they can provide information on the status of your forms.

E-mail: 
Toll-free Fax:
Toll-free Phone:

Use the Submit a Question
<http://www.slforms.universalservice.org/EMailResponse/EMail_Intro.aspx>
link on USAC's website
1-888-276-8736
1-888-203-8100

Thank you for your participation in the Universal Service Fund Schools &
Libraries Program.

You may download and print copies of Schools and Libraries News Briefs
<http://www.usac.org/sl/tools/news-briefs/Default.aspx?WT.mc_id=sl-newsb
rief-20091203>  on USAC's website. You may subscribe
<http://www.usac.org/sl/tools/news-brief/subscribe.aspx?WT.mc_id=sl-news
brief-20091203>  to or unsubscribe
<http://www.usac.org/sl/tools/news-brief/unsubscribe.aspx?WT.mc_id=sl-ne
wsbrief-20091203>  from this news brief. For program information, please
visit the Schools and Libraries area
<http://www.usac.org/sl/?WT.mc_id=sl-newsbrief-20091203>  of the USAC
website, submit a question
<http://www.slforms.universalservice.org/EMailResponse/EMail_Intro.aspx>
to USAC, or call us toll-free at 1-888-203-8100. Feel free to forward
this news brief to any interested parties.

Please do not reply to this email directly, as it was sent from an
unattended mailbox. 

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