Grants & Funding

Fall E-rate Training in CA

Friday, 02 July 2010 10:35 | Written by Administrator |

FALL 2010 E-RATE TRAINING SESSIONS OFFERED STATEWIDE BY CDE/K12HSN

The California Department of Education (CDE) in conjunction with the K-12 High Speed Network (K12HSN) is pleased to announce the Fall 2010 E-rate training options now available to all school districts/charter schools, county offices of education, libraries, and service providers throughout the state.

All training dates are available in person, by videoconference, or by live steaming from your computer. Details on the trainings and registration are available online at: http://www.k12hsn.org/programs/erate/trainings.php

One face-to-face location and multiple videoconference locations are available for each training date offered. The location for the face-to-face is stated next to the training date. By going to the training link below, you will find the choices for videoconference locations. You also have the option of connecting from your office computer and streaming the live event at your computer.

Last Updated (Friday, 02 July 2010 10:41)

Fall 2010 USAC E-rate Training Schedule

Friday, 21 May 2010 11:33 | Written by Administrator |

From the Ed Tech Office of the California Department of Education:

This fall, join USAC at a training for applicants who participate in the Universal Service Fund's Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program. The trainings will cover general E-rate topics and participants will have opportunities to meet USAC staff and discuss the challenges that schools and libraries face when applying for E-rate funding.

Last Updated (Wednesday, 21 July 2010 11:37)

E-rate Changes - Fact vs. Fiction - Time Will Tell

Thursday, 25 March 2010 10:01 | Written by Administrator |

Recently the FCC released their new National Broadband Plan (See: http://download.broadband.gov/plan/national-broadband-plan.pdf ). Even before the Plan’s release, we’ve been hearing considerable speculation about potential changes in how the E-rate program will be implemented in the future.

To prevent any unnecessary worries, it seems wise to remind ourselves that the new National Broadband Plan is just a plan. It is not adopted. Several administrative and legislative steps are required before it can be adopted.

One major future step is the release of NPRM (National Proposal for Rule Making). In this process, the public has an opportunity to comment on the draft plan prior to its adoption.

Last Updated (Tuesday, 13 April 2010 09:38)

E-RATE Form 471 Receipt Acknowledgement Letter

Tuesday, 02 March 2010 14:12 | Written by Administrator |

E-RATE - FORM 471 RECEIPT ACKNOWLEDGMENT LETTER (RAL)

** SECOND CHANCE **

When you receive your Form 471 Receipt Acknowledgment Letter (RAL) from USAC (see attachment) you have 20 days to respond from the date of the letter, and to make any allowable corrections to any clerical errors or errors that may result in reduction or denial of funding. Please review the RAL Report carefully and make corrections ON THE FORMS.

Recent clarifications at USAC on allowable corrections have restricted what is allowed to be corrected during Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) Review. Do NOT rely on the PIA process to make corrections, especially for increases, as they may not be honored.

Below is a list of allowable corrections on the RAL that may not be accepted during PIA:

Making corrections to Block 4 data that results in an increase in E-rate discount
Adding or removing entities from a Block 4 that results in an increase in E-rate discount
Increasing the amount of a Block 5 funding request
Adding a funding request that was left off of Block 5 when the application was submitted

Again, do not forget to get these forms back to USAC by the DUE DATE on the very first page.

You can find more information regarding RAL’s at USAC web site: http://www.universalservice.org/sl/applicants/step07/receipt-acknowledgement-letter.aspx

Last Updated (Tuesday, 02 March 2010 14:15)

The Latest on E-rate

Tuesday, 09 February 2010 13:44 | Written by Micheline LeBlanc |

erate This article is to inform you that the 2010/2011 Form 471 filing deadline has been extended to Friday, February 19, 2010at 8:59 PST (due to adverse weather conditions across the nation.)

HOWEVER, if possible, please complete your forms this week.

Historically, the USAC online filing system has been plagued with technical issues in the days leading up to the Form 471 deadline (even when it has been extended), so filing now will ensure a smooth submission.

Remember, E-rate applicants that are first to file, tend to be the first to get funded. Waiting another week may delay your funding.

We all know what waiting until the last minute can mean to an E-Rate application.

Keep up the important work, and take advantage of the additional time by:

Double checking information for any errors. (i.e., contract dates--existing and new, costs, all sites on Block 4 that are needed, etc.).
Preparing Item 21 Attachments.

Please see the last announcement below for some good guidance and the USAC web site for more details: http://www.usac.org/sl/

Last Updated (Monday, 22 February 2010 11:09)

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