November 2000 Announcements

Please click on the topic below to view the most recent announcements:

SLD, near completion of Year 3 processing, has determined that Year 3 funds are insufficient to reach the discount level of 81% for Internal Connections. Applicants with such requests will be receiving letters during the week of November 27, notifying them that these requests cannot be funded. There will be no funding wave mailed during Thanksgiving week.

Under the FCC rules of priority, requests for Telecommunications Services and Internet Access have top priority and, with funds still available, funding commitments are made on requests for Internal Connections beginning with the most disadvantaged applicants and continuing down the discount percentages until funds are depleted.

In April 2000, SLD determined that, because of the unprecedented level of demand for E-rate funds for Funding Year 3 (July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2001), it would not have sufficient funds for Internal Connections requests with discount percentages of 80 or less. Applicants who submitted such requests have been receiving Funding Commitment Decision Letters denying those requests because of insufficient funds. In April, the SLD determined that it did have sufficient funds for Internal Connections requests with a 90% discount percentage. In the months since then, the funding threshold has been gradually reduced so that, now, approved Internal Connections requests at an 82% discount percentage are receiving funding commitments.

The Schools and Libraries Division is now making entity numbers available to the applicant community. The new Entity Numbers section of the reference area provides links to the entity numbers as of November 13, 2000. If you can't find your entity number in the list, contact the Client Service Bureau at 888-203-8100.

The SLD has posted a new Eligible Services List for use by applicants as they prepare their FCC Forms 471 for Funding Year 4. Applicants and service providers should review this list carefully, as it indicates significant changes in the eligibility of some equipment.

In particular, equipment necessary to transmit video to the classroom or library room is eligible for discounts. In previous lists, such equipment had been described as ineligible, while video service was eligible if provided by an eligible telecommunications carrier. After careful review of these determinations, the FCC has advised SLD that such video equipment is eligible just as equipment that carries voice or data to the classroom or library room is eligible. End-user equipment for video services (for example, TV monitors, cameras, and VCRs) is ineligible, just as end-user equipment for voice or data is ineligible.

The new list also clarifies that modems are only ineligible when installed in or supporting end-user equipment; modems in eligible equipment are eligible.

With respect to Internet telephony, the list provides new guidance: Components of Internal Connections that transform voice to Internet protocol for the purpose of voice over Internet telephony are not eligible for discount.

The list provides additional details on what particular circumstances or conditions determine the eligibility of some equipment and services.

The Eligible Services List is saved as a PDF file that may be downloaded and viewed using Adobe Acrobat, version 4.0 or higher. Click here to view the Eligible Services List, or go to the Eligible Services List in the Reference Area of this web site.

If you need assistance viewing or downloading PDF files, see the PDF Help document in the Reference Area of this web site.

The Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau will be closed on Thursday, November 23 and Friday, November 24, 2000 in observance of Thanksgiving. The Client Service Bureau will resume normal operations on Monday, November 27 at 8:00 a.m. E.S.T.

In an Order released on November 1, 2000, (DA 00-2444), the FCC recognized certain categories of applicants that, through no fault of their own, had not been able to meet the September 30, 2000 deadline for receipt of non-recurring services for Year 2. The order established a new deadline of September 30, 2001 for such categories of applicants.

The order acknowledges that some applicants did not receive their funding commitment decision letters, or a determination on their service provider changes or service substitution requests from USAC in time to implement non-recurring services. Additionally, some applicants may have been unable to meet the September 30, 2000 deadline because their funding disbursements were delayed while USAC investigated the applicant's program compliance, or because their service provider was unable to complete implementation due to reasons beyond the service provider's control.

The FCC established April 4, 2000 as a key decision milestone. Applicants who: (1) received, or will receive a Year 2 Funding Commitment Decision Letter dated April 4, 2000 or later, or (2) were authorized by SLD on April 4, 2000 or later to change their Year 2 Service Providers or to make Year 2 service substitutions, or (3) were left on September 30, 2000 with unfinished, non-recurring projects because service providers were unable to complete the work for reasons stated above, will have until September 30, 2001 to implement non-recurring services supported by Year 2 E-rate funds. The categories above include those applicants whose requests were received outside the Year 2 window and which are now under consideration by SLD.

The Schools and Libraries Division is currently working on the extension process details and will soon post more information about taking advantage of the extension.

The new online Form 471, which became available on November 6, is easier to use and features new tools to make the online process quicker. You will benefit greatly from the new "Form 471 Online Navigation Guide," located in the Reference Area.

New features of the online system for year 4 include:

• New user-friendly navigational functions,
• Ability to review and print the entire application (not just one block at a time),
• Ability to view your form even after you have submitted it,
• Easy visual access to system-generated counter numbers: your Funding Request Number, your Worksheet counter number and Facility to "copy" Block 4 within an application.

The Reference Area features many important documents to help you. More documents are being added or restored almost every day in the days ahead. NOTE:During this transition period the "How to Apply: Step-by-Step" is under construction but will be restored soon. The Reference Area, however, features many of the kinds of documents soon to be accessible through the Step -by -Step section.

Finally, the SL web site is about to be launch a search engine. You can let us know what you think of the new look and the new online application form by sending us an e-mail.

In an effort to better serve our customers, we have changed the look of the Schools and Libraries area of the USAC web site. Our new design was carefully planned to enable visitors access to information quickly and easily. You will notice changes to the layout and names of the navigational areas. Please take a tour of the site to learn about the updated design. If you would like to comment on the new design, you can do so by sending an e-mail.

The SLD web site will be in transition to prepare for the Year 4 opening. We are expecting the transition period to last from Friday, November 3 to noon on Monday, November 6. Starting Friday, users will notice documents being removed from the “Reference Area.” We anticipate returning most of these documents on Monday when we open the Year 4 window. Second, we will be upgrading our equipment starting Saturday, November 4 at 11:00PM. During this time users will be able to browse the Schools and Libraries area of the web site but will not have access to certain functions, e.g., apply online, search 470, deleted 470 applications, rural/urban classification, etc. We are expecting normal service to be returned when the Year 4 window opens on November 6, 2000 at NOON EST. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to serving you as the Year 4 process opens.

On Monday, November 6, noon Eastern Time, the Form 471 filing window for Funding Year 4 (July 1, 2001- June 30, 2002) is scheduled to open.

The window will remain open for seventy-four (74) calendar days and will close on Thursday, January 18, 2001 at 11:59 P.M. EST.

Year 4 features NEW and FIRM filing requirements:

1. The January 18 deadline is a POSTMARKING deadline. In order to make sure your application is in the window, all manually submitted materials must be postmarked no later than January 18.

2. Unlike Year 3, all materials associated with the Form 471 have a January 18 deadline:

• the 471 Form itself ( whether electronic or paper)

• the Block 6 certification for the Form 471 with an original signature by the authorized person

• all attachments for Item 21

• the Block 5 certification of Form 470 filed for Year 4 ( and which is cited in a Year 4 Form 471) with an original signature by the authorized person

3. The Year 4 Form 471 is dated October 2000, and this version must be used for Year 4 requests. Old Forms 471 will be returned to the applicant putting at risk the ability to file on time.

Failure to make the January 18 deadline will place your entire funding request outside the application window, and your funding will be jeopardized. Applicants who file manually should also make sure they conform with 471 Minimum Processing Standards as featured in the Reference area of this web site.

The Year 4 FCC Forms 470 and 471 may be filed on-line or downloaded for manual filing. Click here for access to the forms. The forms are also available via mail by calling our Client Service Bureau at 888-203-8100.

Applicants who have completed the FCC Form 470 28-day posting period, and have selected their vendors for tariff or month-to-month services and/or have executed contracts for contractual services, may submit the FCC Form 471, Services Ordered and Certification Form to the SLD as early as November 6.