Consortia – Lead Member Responsibilities

The entity (or person) acting as the consortium lead member makes certain certifications on both the Form 470 and Form 471. These include certifications that:

• the member schools and/or libraries are statutorily eligible for Universal Service support;

• the applicants are covered by appropriate technology plans where required;

• the approval status of the technology plan(s) is identified;

• the services being support will be used SOLELY for educational purposes;

• the services will NOT be sold, resold or transferred for money or any other thing of value;

• support is conditional upon all the members securing access to all of the resources (including computers, training, software, maintenance and electrical connections) necessary to use the services effectively;

• all of the member entities eligible for support have complied with all applicable state and local procurement laws;

• all of the member entities complied with all program rules (and acknowledging that failure to do so may result in denial and/or cancellation of funding);

• the shared discount level is conditional, for future years, on the most disadvantaged members receiving an appropriate share of benefits from the services;

• records must be retained for five years and are subject to audit;

• the person signing the form is AUTHORIZED to submit it on behalf of the included entities; and

• the information is true according to the person signing it, to the best of his/her knowledge, information and belief.

It is important to note that the documentation from each consortium member of the consortium lead member's authorization to submit the form should be available for PIA review, upon request. Such authorization must pre-date the submission of the form.

The consortium lead member must also take responsibility for ensuring that technology plans are properly prepared and approved by appropriate authorities, that access to all the necessary resources have been secured, that there will be an equitable distribution of shared benefits, and that there has been compliance with state and local procurement laws as well as all Universal Service Support for Schools and Libraries program rules, by each of the consortium members.

Failure on the part of the consortium lead member to meet its responsibilities on behalf of the consortium may result in the denial of funding and/or cancellation of funding commitments for consortium members.