TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:
SUBJECT: E-Rate and Technology Plans
Even as the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) is wrapping up E-Rate for Year 1 and 2, school districts should begin making plans to apply for Year 3 of the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Program, more commonly called E-Rate. The filing window for Year 3 of the program opened on November 10 and will close January 19, 2000. Year 3 begins July 1, 2000 and ends June 30, 2001.
The SLD made several changes to the filing process. Districts must reapply each year to participate in the E-Rate process. In some cases, applicants may not have to file a FCC Form 470 if one was filed in the past. The Form 471 process was also changed to include additional capacity to file online, an electronic version of the form to print out, and more user-friendly terminology. For full details of these changes, see the SLD website at www.sl.universalservice.org.
To be eligible to receive E-Rate funding, schools must have an approved technology plan. The Agency is the sole approver for public and charter schools in Texas. The Agency, in cooperation with the regional education service centers, uses a peer review process for plan approval. Districts submit plans to their education service center where technology specialists and administrators evaluate the plans according to SLD guidelines. Plans recommended for approval are forwarded to the Agency for final review. Service center personnel will assist districts with plans that are deficient.
Because Year 1 of E-Rate spanned 18 months, and the funding year was changed from a calendar year to July through June, districts should check to ensure that a previously approved plan covers Year 3 of the E-Rate program which begins July 1, 2000 and ends June 30, 2001.
If your district does not have an approved plan, or the approval period of your plan has expired, you should submit your technology plan to your education service center for Year 3 approval by March 1, 2000. This will ensure that all district plans are approved by the Agency before the beginning of Year 3 of the program. Service centers will forward recommended plans to the Agency by April 7, 2000. Forms for filing district technology plans are enclosed.
If you have any questions regarding the E-Rate program, contact your ESC or the Agency's Division of Instructional Technology at 512-463-9400. The SLD website may also be consulted.
Sincerely,
Ann Smisko
Associate Commissioner
Curriculum, Assessment and Technology
For further information on this topic, contact the Division of Instructional Technology at 512-463-9400.