Overview of the Erate Program for 2017 Bob

Overview of the E-rate Program for 2017 Bob Bocher DPI E-rate/Broadband Support Team December 14, 2016 1

E-rate Background • Established by 1996 Telecom Act, overseen by the FCC • Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) administers E-rate program and Libraries Division (SLD) is part of USAC • FCC set rules and policies; USAC develops procedures to implement rules 2

E-rate – General Information • Eligible entities – Public and non-public K-12 schools – Public libraries • Funding and discounts – $3. 9 billion/annually via surcharge on phone bills – Discounts of 20 -90% based on poverty using school lunch program • Program year – July 1 – June 30 • Funding year 2017 starts July 1, 2017 3

E-rate – Eligible Services • Category 1 – Voice (phase-out of 20%/year) – Broadband (transport) circuits (fiber build-out) – Internet access • Category 2 – Internal (in building) network infrastructure – Managed Internal Broadband Services (MIBS) – Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections (BMIC) • See Eligible Services List (http: //www. usac. org/sl/) 4

C 1 and C 2 Discounts • Category 1: – Discount % applied to cost of service • Category 2: – Pre-discount budget of $150/student for schools and $2. 30/sq foot for libraries, pre-discount – Is a 5 year amount 5

Application Process • Form 470 - a request for services • Describe/list the E-rate eligible services you need – Issuing an RFP is optional • Form must be “open” for at least 28 days • Providers review your request and respond • You evaluate responses and -- using cost as prime factor -- select a provider • Then file Form 471 which states the service you will get, the provider, costs, discount, etc. 6

Application Review Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) • PIA reviews applications and makes funding decisions – Verifies applicant discount level – Verifies eligibility of services requested – Provides opportunity to make some corrections – Often asks for additional information, can be annoying – If you are uncertain how to respond to a PIA request ask for additional time and contact DPI • A wrong answer can result in a denial 7

Application Approved (Hopefully) • USAC sends you a Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) – Has details if request is approved or denied • Then file Form 486 which tells USAC that services have started – File within 120 days after service starts or within 120 days of the FCDL date 8

Getting The Funds: Two Options • If you pay in full for service – File Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) Form 472 to get reimbursed • File within 120 days after last day of funding year • Can get 120 day extension but request before deadline – File Form 498 for provide info for direct deposit • If you get discounts on bills, you file no form – If you want discounts on bills, be certain to state this on your form 470 9

Update on 2016 Funding • 3, 177 funding requests filed by 684 applicants – 43 denied (1. 4%) – 46 cancelled (1. 4%) – 870 pending (27. 4%) – 2, 218 funded (69. 8%) • $23. 9 million in requests funded (27%) • $65. 2 million in requests pending (73%) 10

Status of 870 Pending Requests* 15 Day Expired 2% Returned for Added Review 3% Wave Ready 5% Final Review 6% Escalated to Manager 6% Assigned to Initial Review 58% Other, or No Status 6% 15 Day Notice 6% Documents Received 9% * Status of explanations are at http: //www. usac. org/_res/documents/sl/pdf/tools/FRN 11 Instructions. pdf

Applying for 2017 • Likely sufficient funding for all C 1 and C 2 requests • DPI provides enrollment and F/R lunch data – Target date is mid-January • Profiles already established in EPC – New applicants must create an EPC account 12

Application Timeline for 2017 • Can file the 470 now – Realistic deadline mid-February – Drop-dead filing date 28 days before 471 deadline • Assume 471 filing window opens early/mid Feb with deadline of early/mid April – Opening of 471 window depends on EPC program and applicant profile updates – Plan to have one filing window 13

E-rate Productivity Center (EPC) • E-rate applicant portal • File most program forms • View status of your application – Lists PIA questions, etc. • Maintain list of related entities – Each school in district, each library branch • Can assign various users various rights • EPC profile can be updated later in Jan. 14

Where to Get Help • SLD website: http: //www. usac. org/sl/ • Client Service Bureau: 888 -203 -8100 – Open service case in EPC (Actions tab > Contact Us) • Apply for E-rate – links to file forms and application flowchart • Webinars – over 30 available on EPC, fiber, C 2 budgets, etc. • 2017 workshop sessions slides – 13 topics • Learning Library on the DPI E-rate website. 15

SLD Website: http: //www. usac. org/sl/ Yikes! They’re making me do E-rate as a class project. 16

DPI E-rate Support TEACH contact: Matt Yeakey TEACH Wisconsin Dept. of Administration 608 -261 -5054 teach@wisconsin. gov E-rate contact for schools: E-rate contact for libraries: Bill Herman DPI, Instructional Media and Technology Services 608 - 267 -2346 william. herman@dpi. wi. go v Ryan Claringbole DPI, Public Library Development 608 -266 -9534 ryan. claringbole@dpi. wi. go v • Assuming you’ve reviewed the SLD Website, contact DPI with any follow-up questions – DPI has limited ability to assist on EPC issues • Contact DPI if you get annoying questions from PIA • Will keep applicants updated on new Badger. Net 17