[OPLINTECH] Annual E-rate Forms Required by OPLIN from ALL libraries

[Stephen Hedges]

It's time once again to start the process of applying for E-rate
discounts. Every public library can and should take advantage of these
discounts on their telephone bills. Once again this year, the State
Library has been sponsoring workshops around the state to assist libraries
with the E-rate process (see
http://www.library.ohio.gov/cregister/sloh-sessions/e-rate-workshops to
register). OPLIN applies for over $1 million in E-rate discounts every
year.

In order for OPLIN to apply for all of our eligible E-rate discounts, we
require two forms from public libraries: a Letter of Agency and a Form
479. We must collect these forms from every library every year. The
easiest way for libraries to prepare these forms is to use the automated
process outlined below.

First, go to http://oplin.org/erate.  You will be asked to enter your
library's FSCS number and a password; the password is your FSCS number (be
sure the "OH" is uppercase) followed by your 5-digit zip code (no spaces).
If you don't know your FSCS number, click on "What is my FSCS number?".

Once you successfully log in, the information your library provided last
year will be automatically displayed. If there are any errors in your
E-rate ID (Billed Entity Number) or FCC Registration Number, click on the
"Update my ID information" link at the top of the page to send OPLIN an
e-mail with the corrected information. You can make changes to any of the
other information on the page by typing it into the appropriate boxes and
hitting the "Submit" button at the bottom.  If your current information is
the same as last year's, simply click the "No Change" buttons. Be sure to
submit the e-mail address you want to use for E-rate-related contact.

The last box asks about CIPA (Children's Internet Protection Act)
compliance. Depending on what you choose from the pull-down list, new text
will appear on the screen asking for further confirmation of your CIPA
status. You will need to click on the check box in front of the new text
to certify that it is accurate. The Ohio Library Council has a good web
page about CIPA-compliance at http://olc.org/CIPAIntro.asp.

Once you've completed the information and clicked "Submit," several things
happen automatically. First, a Letter of Agency and a Form 479 for your
library are generated and saved in pdf format on OPLIN's server. You'll
also see a message allowing you to view or download the pdf file. An
e-mail will also be sent to the address you provided, verifying that you
submitted the form and containing a link to the pdf file.

At this point, you should carefully review the pdf file.  If you need to
make changes, simply start the process again (http://oplin.org/erate).
When everything in the pdf looks correct, you MUST print out the forms,
sign and date them, and mail them to OPLIN at 2323 W. Fifth Ave. Suite
130, Columbus, Ohio 43204; or fax them to us at 614-728-5256.

The Letter of Agency gives OPLIN the authority to apply for E-rate
discounts on the services you receive from us. Form 479 certifies that
your library receives particular services from a consortium (OPLIN is
considered a consortium for E-rate purposes), and that the consortium is
applying for the E-rate discount on these services.

The OPLIN Support Center can answer questions you have about this process.
Call 1-888-96-OPLIN between 8:00AM and 5:00PM Monday through Friday,
e-mail support at oplin.org, or chat with us live at
http://support.oplin.org.

Again, E-rate requires that every library submit these forms to OPLIN
every year. Please visit http://oplin.org/erate and complete the process
AS SOON AS YOU CAN. OPLIN cannot apply for E-rate discounts until we have
these forms from ALL Ohio public libraries.

For your own E-rate process, please keep the following dates in mind:
* E-rate Form 470 can be filed anytime between now and December 27, 2007.
* Form 471 can be filed between November 7, 2007 and January 24, 2008, but
cannot be filed until at least 28 days after the corresponding Form 470.

Thank you!

Stephen

-- 
Stephen Hedges, Executive Director
Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN)
2323 W. 5th Avenue, Suite 130
Columbus, Ohio  43204
614-728-5250    AIM: hedgesst