E-Rate Overview

The eBoard hosted web site service has been approved for federal E-Rate funding under the Priority One "Internet Access" category as a Web Hosting service. It is important to note that the Internet Access category is typically fully funded every year.

Below is a brief overview of the three step process of applying for E-Rate funding. For complete details and requirements for requesting E-Rate funding visit the SLD web site at www.sl.universalservice.org or view the SLD's Fall 2007 e-Rate training videos available online.

eBoard Eligibility for E-Rate

All eligible products and services under the E-Rate program fall into one of three categories: "Telecommunications," "Internet Access," and "Internal Connections." Both the "Telecommunications" and "Internet Access" categories are considered Priority One services and are fully funded every year. Since eBoard provides a "Web Hosting" service, it qualifies for discounts under the Priority One "Internet Access" category. Because eBoard also includes components that are not considered eligible under the E-Rate program, only a percentage of the eBoard service qualifies for discounts.

Step 1: File Form 470

The first step in applying for E-Rate funds is to file a Form 470 which describes the services your school or district is interested in purchasing.

If you wish to receive a proposal for Web hosting services from eBoard and other vendors, check Box 9 (Internet Access) and enter Teacher Website Hosting Service along with the total number of users and school sites you wish to cover. It is very important that you do not reference any specific vendor in your Form 470 - this would disqualify everything submitted on the entire form.

In addition, you may want to consider clicking both boxes in Block 2, Item 7b, to indicate that you will consider multi-year contracts or contracts that contain a voluntary extension option. By clicking these boxes, you will have the option of utilizing multi-year or extended contracts if it is beneficial for you to do so.

After filing a Form 470, you must then wait 28 days before moving on to Step 2. This 28-day waiting period allows vendors to bid on the services you've specified. During this time, you are obligated to consider any and all proposals that you may receive from vendors. Note, however, that even though you may have applied for a certain service, you are not required to follow through with it in Step 2, should you decide not to.

Step 2: File Form 471

After 28 calendar days have passed since you filed your Form 470 and after the SLD has officially certified your Form 470, you may then sign a contract with the vendor you have chosen. Guidelines for selecting a vendor are also found on the SLD web site at www.sl.universalservice.org. Your contract should contain a contingency clause that nullifies the agreement, should E-Rate funding not come through for whatever reason. Once a contract has been signed, you must then file a Form 471 by the specific deadline posted on the SLD web site which details all of the eligible services you've chosen and names all of the vendors that you have selected to provide the services. In order to file your form 471, you must enter the SPIN number of the company you have selected to provide the requested services and enter the 470 application number to which this request refers.

For SPIN number and cost allocation information please call our support line at 866-326-2731.

Note: Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) Reviews

Almost all applicants will receive questions from one or more reviewers at the SLD. These reviewers work on a team called Program Integrity Assurance (PIA). Their job is to review applications and ask questions to clarify information or to gather additional information from the applicant. It is critical that you respond to any and all requests from the PIA team in a timely manner. If you fail to do so, your application is in jeopardy of being denied. If you need more time to answer any questions, you can always request an extension.

Note: Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDL)

Once the PIA team has reviewed your Form 471 and funds have been allocated for that program year, you will then receive a Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) specifying which components of your application have been funded and which have been denied. If your funding request has been approved, you may then begin to implement services. If your application has been denied, you will have 60 days to appeal that decision.

Step 3: File Form 486

Once the SLD has reviewed your Form 471 and monies have been allocated for that program year, you will then receive a Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) specifying which elements of your application have been funded and which have been denied. The time this letter arrives varies from year to year. If your funding request has been approved, you may then begin to implement your services. Once services have begun, you must then file a Form 486 which informs the SLD that disbursement of funds can begin.

For More Information

If you have any questions about the E-Rate process you can contact the SLD at 1-888-203-8100 or visit their Web site at www.sl.universalservice.org. To contact eBoard with questions about E-Rate or the eBoard service in general, please call us at 866-326-2731.