Universal Service Administrative Company Eligible Products Services Phil

Universal Service Administrative Company Eligible Products & Services Phil Gieseler Schools and Libraries Division Universal Service Administrative Company Washington Sept. 30, 2005 Chicago Oct. 6, 2005 Los Angeles Oct. 11, 2005 Newark Oct. 21, 2005

Objectives Universal Service Administrative Company • We’ll address these questions • What products and services are eligible? and also • How should applicants request these services? • So they will be approved with quick turnaround • So invoices can be promptly approved 2

Summary Universal Service Administrative Company • Tools available for assisting with eligibility questions: • • Eligible Services Framework Eligible Services List Eligible Products Database Reference Area of SLD web site 3

The Basics Universal Service Administrative Company • Fundamental eligibility information • 4 categories of service • Priority 1 • Telecommunications • Internet Access • Priority 2 • Internal Connections (every 2 out of 5 years) • Basic maintenance of Internal Connections 4

The Basics Universal Service Administrative Company • Telecommunications • E-rate can provide funding for “any commercially available telecommunications service” • FCC has a specific definition of “telecommunications” 5

The Basics Universal Service Administrative Company • Telecommunications is "the transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user’s choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received" 6

The Basics Universal Service Administrative Company • How can applicants and service providers figure out what this means? • • Eligible Services Framework Eligible Services List Eligible Products Database Reference Area of SLD web site 7

The Basics Universal Service Administrative Company • Telecommunications services • Basic telephone service • T-1, DSL, ATM, frame relay • NOT a telecommunications service • Internet access • Broadcast and cable television • Applicant-owned facilities 8

The Basics Universal Service Administrative Company • Internet access • “Basic conduit access” to the Internet • Includes e-mail 9

The Basics Universal Service Administrative Company • Internal Connections • Components are eligible only if they are necessary to transport information all the way to individual classrooms. • The service must be an essential element in the transmission of information within the school or library. 10

The Basics Universal Service Administrative Company • Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections • • repair and upkeep of eligible hardware wire and cable maintenance basic technical support configuration changes. 11

ESL Universal Service Administrative Company • The Eligible Services List • Updated for each funding year • USAC proposes changes • Public provides comments • FCC adopts final List 12

ESL Universal Service Administrative Company • The Eligible Services List • Two methods for viewing information • PDF file • Searchable interface 13

Conditional Eligibility Universal Service Administrative Company • Project Management is only conditionally eligible • File Servers are only conditionally eligible • Distance learning is only conditionally eligible • A web hosting service is only conditionally eligible 14

Conditional Eligibility Universal Service Administrative Company • Don’t think of it as the “Eligible” Services List • Think of it as the “Conditionally Eligible” Services List • I. e. , be sure to understand the limited conditions for eligibility of a product or service 15

Conditional Eligibility Universal Service Administrative Company • Understand the conditions of eligibility in the Eligible Services List • Don’t request funding if you don’t meet the eligibility conditions • “Creative interpretations” can lead to delays, denials, or worse 16

Funding Steps Universal Service Administrative Company • Several steps must take place before a funding commitment is received: • • Create an approved Technology Plan Obtain non-E-rate resources Determine products and services desired Submit FCC Form 470 Select most cost effective proposal Submit FCC Form 471 Respond to any USAC questions Receive Funding Commitment Decision Letter 17

FCC Form 471 Universal Service Administrative Company • 6 sections, or “Blocks" • • • Block 1– Billed Entity Information Block 2– Impact (for schools) Block 3– Impact (for libraries) Block 4– Discount Calculation Worksheet Block 5– Funding Request(s) Block 6– Certifications 18

Block 5 Universal Service Administrative Company XXXXXX 19

Block 5, Item 21 Universal Service Administrative Company • The Item 21 Attachment • “You MUST attach a description of the service, including a breakdown of components, costs, manufacturer name, make and model number…. ” • Examples are provided in the document “Item 21 Attachments for Form 471” 20

Item 21 Example Universal Service Administrative Company Narrative description: Quantity Product or Service Description Unit Cost Extended Pre-discount Cost Recurring Non-Recurring Total Additional Information: 21

Tips Universal Service Administrative Company • If you submit questionable information, your request will be questioned! • “Questionable information” = unclear, potentially not eligible, incomplete 22

Tips Universal Service Administrative Company • Therefore: • Be clear • Be eligible • Be complete • Tools are available for accomplishing this 23

Eligibility Tools Universal Service Administrative Company • Tools available for assisting with eligibility questions: • • • Eligible Services Framework Eligible Services List Eligible Products Database Reference Area of SLD web site (Careful) coordination with service providers 24

Class Exercise Universal Service Administrative Company Little Red Schoolhouse • Approved Technology Plan: • Basic telephone service • local area network that connects laptop computers in each of 24 classrooms. • Internet access, including e-mail • What are the steps that must be taken for successful E-rate funding? 25

Class Exercise Universal Service Administrative Company Little Red Schoolhouse • Three separate funding requests: • Telecommunications • Internal Connections • Internet access • Let’s focus on the Internal Connections funding request 26

Class Exercise Universal Service Administrative Company • Checklist: • • Technology Plan non-E-rate resources Determine products and services desired Submit FCC Form 470 Select most cost effective proposal Submit FCC Form 471 Respond to any USAC questions Receive Funding Commitment Decision Letter 27

Class Exercise Universal Service Administrative Company • Non-E-rate resources required for: • • • Teacher training End user components Sufficient electrical capacity Applicant portion of E-rate Etc. • • Tech Plan Resources Components Form 470 Winning bid Form 471 Questions 28 FCDL

Class Exercise Universal Service Administrative Company • Products and Services Desired– components needed for a local area network that provides e-mail to laptop computers in each of 24 classrooms • File server • Network operating system • Tech Plan • E-mail software • Resources • Cabling for 24 classrooms • Components • Form 470 • (24) laptop computers • Winning bid • Word processing software for • Form 471 laptops • Questions • FCDL 29

Class Exercise Universal Service Administrative Company • Submit FCC Form 470 to begin the competitive bidding process • Encourage competing bids • Form 470 wording can be general or specific • Must provide enough information to allow vendors to determine if they are interested in bidding • • Tech Plan Resources Components Form 470 Winning bid Form 471 Questions 30 FCDL

Class Exercise Universal Service Administrative Company • Select the most cost effective bid • Price must be the highest weighted factor when determining winning bid • Must consider only the eligible components when making this determination • Winning bid must be cost effective • • Tech Plan Resources Components Form 470 Winning bid Form 471 Questions 31 FCDL

Class Exercise Universal Service Administrative Company • Submit FCC Form 471 • Online filing is highly encouraged… • …for ALL parts of the 471 • Form 471 itself • Online certification, using a PIN • Item 21 Attachment • • Tech Plan Resources Components Form 470 Winning bid Form 471 Questions 32 FCDL

Class Exercise Universal Service Administrative Company • What components are eligible? • • • File server Network operating system E-mail software Cabling for 24 classrooms (24) laptop computers Word processing software —for e-mail • • • X • Tech Plan Resources Components Form 470 Winning bid • Form 471 • Questions 33 • FCDL

Class Exercise Universal Service Administrative Company • What information should be included on the Item 21 Attachment? • • • File server Network operating system E-mail software Cabling for 24 classrooms (24) laptop computers Word processing software —for e-mail —for above server —server-based, shared • Tech Plan —data cabling • • Resources Components Form 470 Winning bid Form 471 Questions 34 FCDL

Class Exercise Universal Service Administrative Company • Answering questions from USAC • What questions? • Answer the questions posed • Your opportunity to provide necessary information • • Tech Plan Resources Components Form 470 Winning bid Form 471 Questions 35 FCDL

Class Exercise Universal Service Administrative Company • Receive your Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) • Any denials? • Any reductions? • Now the fun begins…. …implementation… • • Tech Plan Resources Components Form 470 Winning bid Form 471 Questions FCDL 36

Post-commitment Universal Service Administrative Company • Wait, there’s more • Form 486 • Potential post-commitment changes • SPIN Changes • Service Substitutions • Invoicing 37

Pop Quiz Universal Service Administrative Company • Which is filed first, the Form 470 or the Form 471? • After the Form 470 is posted on the USAC web site, how long must an applicant wait before they select the service provider? 38

Pop Quiz Universal Service Administrative Company • What are some of the common denial reasons? • What category of service is available to an applicant location only twice in every five years? 39

Pop Quiz Universal Service Administrative Company • At what point can a service provider move from an arms length relationship with an applicant to an active partnership with that applicant? • If an applicant or service provider submits questionable information, what action can be expected from USAC? 40

Pop Quiz Universal Service Administrative Company • What tools are available for determining product and service eligibility? • What happens if a funding request includes ineligible components? 41

Pop Quiz Universal Service Administrative Company • How can this specification on an Item 21 Attachment be improved? • (2) Acme Products model X 124 file servers • (1) Installation for above • (1) Training $xxx 42

Wrapup Universal Service Administrative Company • Why is this important? • Over 1/3 of Forms 471 need only a review of the Item 21 Attachment • Another 1/3 have only one additional area to review • If we can improve the review of Item 21 Attachments, then we can speed funding decisions 43

Wrapup Universal Service Administrative Company • Questions / comments 44

Wrapup Universal Service Administrative Company • Coming up: • Enhanced systems • Applicant PIN • Block 4 Bulk Upload • Online Item 21 Attachment 45

Universal Service Administrative Company Eligible Products & Services Phil Gieseler Schools and Libraries Division Universal Service Administrative Company Washington Sept. 30, 2005 Chicago Oct. 6, 2005 Los Angeles Oct. 11, 2005 Newark Oct. 21, 2005