E-Rate News

FY 2007 Form 470 Planning (11/26/2006)

It is time again to file your Form 470(s) for the upcoming FY 2007 funding year. The most important point to remember is that the Form 470 must be posted at least 28 days before vendors can be selected, contracts can be signed, and the associated Form 471 application(s) can be filed. Since the last day to file a Form 471 application is expected to be in early February, this means that the Form 470 must be filed by early January. To provide sufficient time for vendor selection, contract signing, and application preparation, however, it is a good strategy to file the Form 470 in the fall.

2-in-5 Tool for Internal Connections Now Available (11/13/2006)

Beginning in Funding Year 2005, each entity (school, library or non-industrial facility) can receive funding for internal Connections only in two of every five funding years. Funding Year 2007 is the first year which entities can be ineligible for internal Connections funding based on this rule. Entities are eligible for discounts in any two years within a five-year period. The rule applies to individual recipients. If an entity receives any funding commitments for internal Connections in a given funding year, that year counts as one of the two-in-five. The Two-in-Five Tool gives you information on your eligibility for funding of internal Connections requests for several funding years. Additional information on the Two-in-Five Rule is posted on the SLD Website.

2007 Eligible Services List Updated (10/26/2006)The FCC issued Public Notice FCC 06-158 October 19th, 2006, which released the FY2007 Eligible Services List [PDF, 1.1MB]. Applicants should use the 2007 Eligible Services List to prepare their applications for the upcoming Funding Year 2007 filing window. This version includes activated links to aid navigation.

State of California News

Teleconnect Fund Application of Statewide Average E-rate Discount  (6/1/2006)
The California Teleconnect Fund program will apply an average E-rate discount of 72% from January 1, 2006 through June 2006 billing periods and 69% from July 2006 through June 2007 billing periods before applying State CTF discounts.

Senate Bill 1102 (Statutes of 2004, Chapter 227) added Section 884.5 to the Public Utilities (PU) Code. The section, which became operative on January 1, 2006, includes the following provisions:
(b) A teleconnect discount shall be applied after applying the E-rate discount. The Commission shall first apply the E-rate discount, regardless of whether the customer has applied for the E-rate discount or has been approved, if the customer, in the determination of the commission, meets the eligibility requirements for the E-rate discount.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), the teleconnect discount shall be applied without regard to the E-rate discount for any necessary small school, as defined in Section 42283 of the Education Code, unless that school has applied for, and been approved to receive, the E-rate discount.