E-Rate & SOCS

If you are applying for E-Rate funding for web hosting services, please note that USAC has approved an increase in the E-rate reimbursement rate for SOCS. The eligible SOCS web hosting component has increased from 61% to 73%.

Per USAC's guidelines, web hosting is eligible for e-rate funding, however, the tools with which a site is managed are not 100% eligible, therefore we have cost allocated our services. Please refer to our website for step-by-step filing guidelines: http://www.socs-hero.org/vnews/display.v/ART/4cd05cc6358db.

Your Form 470 deadline to file is February 21 in order to meet the 28-day waiting period before filing a Form 471.

The Form 471 filing window opens January 9, 2012 and closes March 20, 2012, at 11:59 pm.

When filing your Form 471 for web hosting services, make sure that you mark the category of service as Priority 1, Internet Access, in Block 5. Our SPIN number is 143028010. List the service provider as the Foundation for Educational Services. In your calculations, list 73% of your annual web hosting amount as the annual non-recurring charges. All components within the 73% are eligible. Be sure to list the ineligible components at $0. Your total discount is based on your free and reduced lunch program percentage as determined by USAC. For detailed instructions, please refer to USAC's website at: http://www.usac.org/sl/applicants/step07/form471-filing-infomation.aspx.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact SOCS at erate@fes.org or call 800.850.8397.

Getting Your Money!

Once the Form 486 is filed and a notification letter is received, the next steps to getting your district's money is as follows:

• Discuss with your service providers whether you would like discounts on your bills or to pay your bills in full and be reimbursed for discounts.
• Invoice USAC before the invoice deadline using the BEAR Form 472 for reimbursements after paying the bills in full OR invoice the service providers using the SPI Form 474 if you choose to receive discounts off of your bills.
• The invoice deadline is typically 120 days after the last date to receive services, ie..120 days from June 30 each year.

E-Rate Competitive Bidding Rules

• The Form 470 must explicitly indicate (via a checkmark in the appropriate box) that the applicant has or intends to issue an RFP, and must indicate how a service provider may obtain a copy of the RFP. (Note: If, within a single category of service, an applicant uses an RFP for some services, and no RFP for other services, the applicant should file two Form 470s, one for RFP services and one for non-RFP services.)

• The Form 470 must be posted for 28 days before an applicant can select a vendor, sign a contract, and/or file a Form 471 application. The 28th day is known as the Allowable Contract Date ("ACD"). If an RFP is also issued, that RFP must also remain open for 28 days. If the Form 470 and RFP are not released on the same day, the 28-day requirement is governed by whichever is filed last. If, for example, the RFP is issued 5 days after the Form 470 is filed, the first day that the applicant can select a vendor is not the ACD shown on the posted Form 470, but five days thereafter (i.e., 28 days from the issuance of the RFP).