E-Rate Application Steps in Brief
| 1 |
School District Tech Plan |
District develops or updates a tech plan and
submits to the NHDOE for approval. The plan has to be developed
(but not yet approved) when districts submit a Form 470. |
| 2 |
School District Form 470 Request for Services |
Districts submit a Form 470 which is a
Request for Services to the SLD. This is like putting the
services
out to bid. This step typically happens in the fall or winter each year for service discounts that would begin the following July. When
the form is posted to the SLD website, districts must wait
at least 28 days before considering bids. This form must
be completed by the district, not by a potential service
provider.
(If a district has already submitted a Form 470 in a prior
year and signed a multi-year contract, they don’t need
to submit a new Form 470 to continue it.)
|
| 3 |
SLD Form 470 Receipt Notification Letter |
SLD posts the Form 470 to its website and
sends confirmation to the district. This effectively opens
the bidding process.
You have to wait at least
28 days before you take the next step
of filing a Form
471 (or as soon as the filing window opens) because
you need to allow bidders time to submit bids to you. |
| 4 |
School District Form 471 |
When the district decides which bidder to
use, they submit a Form 471 to the SLD (as soon as the filing
window opens). This is the actual request for funding.
The discount percentage is identified on the form and is based
on the participation percentage for the school lunch program. |
| 5 |
SLD Form 471 Filing Window |
SLD is required to observe the filing windows
set by the FCC. This is when you need to file your Form
471. If you haven't already filed Form 470, you need
to file the 470 and wait 28 days before filing the 471.
|
| 6 |
SLD Form 471 Receipt Acknowledgement Letter |
SLD sends an acknowledgement that they have
received the Form 471 and includes important details for
the district and
the service provider. This is NOT a commitment of the discount.
That comes next. |
| 7 |
SLD FCDL:
Funding Commitment Decision Letter |
An FCDL is sent to both the district and the provider to
indicate the actual amount approved. If funds are denied, it
would be indicated in this letter. |
| 8 |
School District Appeals |
If a district is denied funds, they have 60 days to submit
an appeal (based on FCDL date). |
| 9 |
School District Form 486 Receipt of Service Confirmation
Form |
Districts must submit this form to indicate
services have begun, their technology plan has been approved,
and the status
of their compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection
Act (CIPA).
After July 1st each year (which is the
first date services could actually start), there is a limited
time
for submitting
this form – it
must be received or postmarked no later than 120
days after
the date of the FCDL or 120 days after the Service Start
Date, whichever is later. |
| 10 |
School District
OR Service Provider Form 472
BEAR Form
OR
Form 474 |
BEAR Form 472 - District files
this form if they will pay for services in full and request
reimbursement directly from E-Rate. This Billed Entity
Applicant
Reimbursement method is commonly called a BEAR form.
SPIF Form 474 - Provider files this form
if district chooses to receive discounted
bills from
the provider.
In this case, the PROVIDER files a Form 474 (Service Provider
Invoice Form).
Form 472 or 474 must be received at SLD
or postmarked no later than 120 days after the date of
the
Form 486. |
