Web Site Tour & Tool Tips for Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Schools and Library Division Cindy Olson Finance, Funding & Management Specialist ARCC – Region II in Duluth

Today We Will Show You How:  To navigate the USAC web site.  To find an overview of the e-rate process.  To find resources, training materials & learn how to ask questions of the USAC experts.  To review work you have already done.  To use the deadline tools.  To use the data retrieval tools.  To make sure you get every dollar you are entitled to.

Home Page

Start With an Overview Of The Process

Training And Outreach News Briefs posted weekly. Sign up for updates.

News Briefs

News, Notices & Updates Countdown

On-Line Forms

File as many forms as possible on-line! Coming in the future: On-line options like SPIN change requests.

Practice, Practice, Practice For more information on the training site, form numbers and FRN numbers to use, see the September 21, 2007 News Brief.

All The Same Features – But For Practice ONLY! Any work done on this page of the site will NOT BE PROCESSED.

Have A Question? Ask The Experts

Submit A Question You can enter a case number if the case has not yet been closed or select form inquiry or topic inquiry. Most times, I select “Other” under Topic Inquiry because my question is not about a specific form number or specific FRN number.

Submit A Question If you need to send an attachment to describe or support your question you need to click yes here.

Submit A Question Type your question in this box. If you have an attachment, they send you an with directions on how to submit the attachment. When done, click on submit and you will receive an confirmation with case number. Answer will follow shortly.

Forms & Instructions Click on the adobe symbol for paper copy of forms and instructions. This is not where you would go to apply on-line (except for the BEAR forms, which have a link to the apply on-line option).

Encyclopedia On E-Rates

FRN And FCC RN – They Are All Here

Service Provider Selection Help Scoring rubrics provided by USAC. They understand that factors beyond price need to be considered when determining what is cost effective.

Service Provider Selection Help

Nothing In Life Is Free. Same With E-Rates!

Search Tools – Now The Fun Begins!

What Is In Your Tool Box? Tool Description of what it will do for you

Two In Five Tool

Deadline Tools

Form 486 Deadline Enter the date of your FCDL, the service start date, then click calculate.

Data Retrieval Tool – Input screen

Data Retrieval Tool….. Once you have selected all of the criteria you are interested in reviewing click here.

Data Retrieval Tool….. Click this button

Data Retrieval Tool….. Click to open or save file

Data Retrieval Report….. Potentially, you can look up the Billed Entity Number in question and ask them if they were satisfied with the service delivered by this provider. SSD stands for service start date – this means form 486 has been done!

What I Use The Data Retrieval Tool For..

Is To Determine What $ We Are NOT Collecting

My Soap Box  We are doing a great job with our form 470’s and form 471’s.  We are doing OK, but could do a better job completing form 486’s on time.  We can really improve on making sure we are actually getting the funding – whether it be discounts on our bills or completing the BEAR forms.

How?  As soon as you fill out form 486 – contact your service provider and determine if THEY will be billing USAC or if YOU will be billing USAC.  If THEY are billing USAC – VERYIFY this by looking on your accounts payable bills and doing an annual worksheet to verify that the discount they provided to you is correct.

How?  If YOU are responsible for billing USAC, complete the on-line BEAR form Quarterly (It can be done annually, but if you miss the October 28 th BEAR deadline you lose an entire year of funding. If you miss the last deadline when billing quarterly, you only miss ¼ year of funding.)

Why Do I Need To Be Concerned?

These things are YOUR responsibility

The Biggest Reason Should Be.. Why spend 28 days posting your request for bids, spend weeks answering questions from service providers from Timbuktu, spend hours selecting service providers, signing contracts and completing form 471, then more weeks and months worrying about and responding to PIA calls and then NOT collect your money??

Tracking Resources – SLD Checklists

Tracking Resources – Other Checklists Click this tab to get an FRN tracking worksheet.

FRN Tracking Worksheet Formula

FRN Tracking Worksheet This should also match your quarterly reports

Resources  Universal Service Administrative Company, Schools and Library Division…AKA The E-Rate Folks Their web site is Their help desk number is  Their reference area is awesome.  Their newsletters are a must– SIGN UP NOW.  Their submit a question link is great for out of the ordinary questions.  Mary Mehsikomer – MDE Her address is Her phone number is  She knows more about e-rates than anyone in Minnesota!  SECA (State E-Rate Coordinators Alliance) Their web site is  Their weekly updates are invaluable.

Thank You Now you have the tools to be an E-Rate Hero for your school or library! e ee