March 2005 Announcements

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

The SLD is conducting a review of the Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) to improve the DRT interface and to ensure that the data returned are accurate and useful. To that end, we would like to hear your comments on the current DRT. We are interested in both general comments and comments on adding, deleting, or changing the fields displayed in the specific areas of the DRT. Comments will be accepted through April 8, 2005.

If you have a comment, you may go to the Submit a Question page and choose “Data Retrieval Tool comments” from the Topic Inquiry list. You will then have the following choices:

• General (for example, for a comment on the formatting of data displayed onscreen)
• Required Selection Criteria (Funding Year, FRN Service Type, etc.)
• Optional Selection Criteria (Billed Entity Number, Wave Number, etc.)
• A. Identifying Data (471 Application Number, FRN, etc.)
• B. Billed Entity Information (Applicant Name, Applicant Address, etc.)
• C. Service Provider Information (Service Provider Name, SPIN)
• D. Funding Request Related Dates (486 Service Start Date, Last Allowable Date to Invoice, etc.)
• E. Discount Funding Request Data (requested or committed amounts by FRN)
• F. Funding Decision Data (FCDL Commitment Status, Site Identifier, etc.)
• G. Invoicing Data (Invoicing Mode, Amount Authorized for Disbursement)

Choose the area most appropriate to your comment and click “Continue.” You will enter your demographic information, click “Continue” again, and then enter your comment in the text field provided.

If you have multiple comments about the same area of the DRT, please include all of them in the same text field and click “Submit.” If you have comments about more than one area, click “Submit” and then click “Submit Another Question.” Although you will be taken back to the main Submit a Question page to repeat the process, you will not have to re-enter your demographic information.

You may review the current DRT instructions, areas, and data points by viewing the Data Retrieval Tool.

Following is a list of the documents or pages that have changed on this web site since the last posting on updates:

A copy of the Funding Year 2005 Form 471 Receipt Acknowledgment Letter (RAL) [PDF, 52kb] has been posted to the Reference Area. This letter contains useful information about next steps in the application process, including a complete list of allowable corrections that can be made using the RAL correction process. RALs for Funding Year 2005 applications will be issued in daily batches (5,000 applicant letters and 5,000 service provider letters) beginning March 7, 2005 until RALs have been issued for all certified applications. Thereafter, RALs will continue to be issued daily as the data entry of in-window paper Forms 471 and Form 471 certification pages continues.

The updated Contract Expiration Date field in the Data Retrieval Tool will now reflect any change made to the Contract Expiration Date through a successfully data entered Form 500.

The document Transfers of Equipment has been updated with information about the conditions under which equipment purchased with E-rate funds can be transferred. It also describes the process for notifying the SLD of an equipment transfer from a facility that has been permanently or temporarily closed.

On Wednesday, March 9, 2005 from 3:00 to 4:30 PM EST, SLD will host an open WebEx session on the Eligible Product Database Item 21 Attachment. Participants will hear tips on using the online Item 21 Attachment, and have an opportunity to comment on the pilot project. To register, please go to: SLD's WebEx training site.

Seating is limited and signup for the session is first-come first-served. Participants must pay for their own long-distance charges.

WebEx will provide notification via e-mail to those registrants accepted to participate in the training. If you have any questions, please send an E-mail.