Get Connected - February 2008 - (Page 3) Now That E-Rate Season Is Over … Well, as we all know by now, E-Rate season is never really over. Keeping up with E-Rate responsibilities and requirements is an ongoing activity. Even though we are past the filing season for Year 11, there are some key things that must be done in the next few months to ensure E-Rate funding continues: • Clean up your E-Rate files – Now that the rush to file is over, take a look back at your E-Rate files and make sure you have all the documentation from the filing season. It should be organized and stored in a manner that would allow you to easily access it to answer potential E-Rate questions on your applications. • Review your Receipt Acknowledgement Letters (RALs) – The Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) will send you a letter that covers the key information on each of your 471 filings. Read that information closely and make sure it is correct. You have an opportunity to make corrections to your 471s on the RAL including increasing your filing amounts, if needed. Your vendors will also receive a copy of the RAL and can assist you, if needed, in cleaning up any errors or issues. • Prepare and submit your Item 21 Attachment – The Item 21 Attachment is not required to be included with your 471 filing. However, you do need to provide this document to the SLD so they can review your 471 filing. This document is very important as it is the description of the services that you have purchased including quantities and prices. It is the basis for Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) review for eligible services and for invoicing review. When a vendor invoices the SLD, their invoice is compared to the Item 21 to verify that the services match— otherwise the invoice will be rejected. We recommend that you work with your vendor to prepare the Item 21 Attachment. By working with the vendor, it helps make sure that the description of services is accurate and that the vendor knows how to prepare the invoices to match the Item 21 descriptions. • Track the status of your 471s – You can use the SLD website search tool for Form 471 Status to get a snapshot of where your applications are in the process. When your 471 is first submitted and certified, you should see the status of “Certified – In Window.” When the SLD has picked up your 471 to begin the review process, you will see the status of “Initial Review.” By checking this tool periodically, it can help you understand when PIA questions will begin. • Respond to PIA questions – Responses to PIA questions are the key to funding success. Almost every applicant and most every 471 filing will get questions. Many times these questions are standard across all similar applications—although they may change from year to year depending on the emphasis that year of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and SLD. Some tips when working with PIA include the following: Get the questions in writing and answer the questions in writing—avoid providing answers over the phone. Continued on page 6 3
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Get Connected - February 2008 Get Connected - February 2008 CoSN’s Small District & Superintendent Initiatives Contents New E-mail Archiving “Exceeds Expectations” Now that E-Rate Season Is Over Digital Learning Spaces 2010 Get Connected - February 2008 Get Connected - February 2008 - CoSN’s Small District & Superintendent Initiatives (Page 1) Get Connected - February 2008 - New E-mail Archiving “Exceeds Expectations” (Page 2) Get Connected - February 2008 - Now that E-Rate Season Is Over (Page 3) Get Connected - February 2008 - Now that E-Rate Season Is Over (Page 4) Get Connected - February 2008 - Now that E-Rate Season Is Over (Page 5) Get Connected - February 2008 - Now that E-Rate Season Is Over (Page 6) Get Connected - February 2008 - Digital Learning Spaces 2010 (Page 7) Get Connected - February 2008 - Digital Learning Spaces 2010 (Page 8)
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