E-RATE Funding Year 2008

Form 471 application filing window:

The FY2009 application filing window will open at noon EST on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 and will close at 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 12, 2009. The filing window will be open for 73 days.

Applicants should note that FY2009 Forms 470 can be filed now.

Traditionally, a high percentage of Forms 471 arrive at USAC during the final week that the window is open. We urge you to file early.

The E-Rate (Universal Service Program) program allows schools and libraries to purchase at discounted rates (20% to 90%) in three service categories: Telecommunications, Internet Access and Internal Connections.

In order to apply for E-Rate discounts, you must:

• Have an approved technology plan
• File or select a Form 470
• Identify an eligible contract date (28 days from the Form 470 posting)
• File a Form 471

VITA has pre-qualified some of its contracts with a Form 470. Applicants using these Form 470 numbers should retain a written contract (dated after the eligible contract date and before the Form 471 date) in their documentation before filing a Form 471. Below is a table of VITA’s most popular E-rate services and the information needed for Block 5 on the Form 471:

* The Commonwealth, at its sole discretion, has renewed this contract through November 7, 2010, as provided for in the original contract.

** The requesting entity will need to file a 470 for these services.

References:

• The E-Rate program: http://www.sl.universalservice.org
• Eligible services: http://www.usac.org/sl/applicants/step06/eligible-services-framework.aspx
• VITA contracts: http://www.vita.virginia.gov/procurement/contracts.cfm

For additional information on VITA telecommunications services contact the VITA Customer Care Center at:
1-866-637-8482
or
vccc@vita.virginia.gov