For the 2012 year, eRate funding will be available for distribution to schools in the amount of nearly $2.3 billion. These funds and telecommunication discounts will be dispersed to schools and libraries to take advantage of. With the new eRate season right around the bend it’s beneficial to have some extra guidance as your school prepares an application.
The following five tips are important to keep in mind for any eRate submission:
Check the ESL (Eligible Services List) before buying – Often times, applicants will purchase a new service or product this is eRate eligible but then don’t apply for the discounts that are eligible. By evaluating all new purchases for eligibility, schools could be saving resources and funds. The USAC (The Universal Service Administrative Co.) is the agency that issues the ESL each year, and the new ESL for 2012 funding can be downloaded on its website, found here, http://www.usac.org/default.aspx.
Apply regardless of your discount level – Applicants that fall under the 80% bucket might reconsider applying since this is the typical cut-off for Priority Two discounts on internal connections, but don’t get tripped up here. This year, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is tapping unused resources to fund all Priority Two requests from the 2010 year, and an additional $850 million will be added in unspent funding for 2011 will be added to the 2012 season as well. Submitting is the only way to increase a school’s chance of getting funded, plus, it gives the FCC insight that there is a demand for this type of connectivity.
Consider the alternatives to calculate your discount level – Some school districts feel their NSLP numbers are not calculated accurately enough by their NSLP participation number because this doesn’t properly reflect an area’s relative poverty levels. To counter this, some school officials have opted to conduct a survey in order to determine their discount rate. If you go this route, visit the USAC for a sample survey and tools for reference since there are specific requirements and targeted questions to ask.
Prepare for an audit – Successful applications are usually the ones with very organized documentation on their retention policies and procedures. Staying on top of documentation organization will require a lot of cooperation with school districts, but it’s worth pursuing and encouraging all departments to participate in.
Stay in the know of changes to the rules and regulations – Last year’s application had a lot of regulatory and procedural changes, including new Forms 470 and 471. This year, the changes are fewer but there will still be new forms released. It is important to stay educated about the eRate’s rules and regulations and to follow deadlines closely. This will greatly increase a school’s chance for success.
The eRate company provides a step-by-step online tool for the entire eRate process. More information on analysis and eRate commentary can be found by visiting, http://transition.fcc.gov/learnnet/.
Source: Five tips for eRate success by Cara Erenben. eSchool News, online. November 3, 2011
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