The FCC Form 471 Seeks Funding for Eligible Services Competitively Bid Having selected the service provider, the applicant is ready to complete the Form 471 (“Services Ordered and Certification Form”) – the actual request for funding. Because the amount of funding available each year is capped at $2.25 billion and demand in most years has significantly exceeded funds available, FCC rules prescribe a filing window during which all Forms 471 that are filed are treated as if simultaneously received. (Applications that are not filed within that timeframe likely will not receive funding.) Once the filing window opens, the applicant can submit the Form 471 either online or on paper.

Purpose of the Form

The Form 471 is used to calculate the discount percentage to which the applicant is entitled. In general, the discount percentage for an individual school is based on the percent of the student population eligible for the National School Lunch Program; the discount percentage for a library is based on the weighted average discount percentage for the school district in which the library is located. The Form 471 also lists the individual funding requests, which must be separated by service category and service provider. 

ERC Scope of Work:

1. Identify, analyze, and consult with district regarding federal lunch program-related issues and E-rate discount.

2. Secure, review, and tabulate federal lunch program data.

3. Work with the Schools and Library Division (“SLD”) to obtain Billed Entity Numbers for new schools.

4. Identify, analyze, and consult with the district regarding contract, tariff, and/or leasing issues.

5. Identify and resolve Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) issues; this includes helping the district and district to obtain a new service provider and/or SPIN should the need arise.

6. Obtain/verify customer account numbers.

7. Work with district to develop and to implement filing strategies designed to increase the amount of potential funding and the probability of receiving E-rate funding.

8. Identify, analyze, and consult with entity regarding new contract(s), contract renewal(s), and/or master contract issues.

9. Prepare Form 471(s) for district to review and submit to the SLD

10. Respond to inquiries regarding SLD data entry and problem resolution.

11. Review and correct as necessary Receipt Acknowledgement Letters (RALs). Respond to inquiries regarding SLD Program Integrity Assurance.

12. Prepare and assist in developing responses to Item 25 Audit, as applicable.

Retention of Records and Audits

• Applicants MUST maintain their records for at least five years to be able to comply with audits and other inquiries or investigations. USAC and the FCC visit a sample of applicants to ensure services have been delivered in compliance with FCC rules. Once a client, ERC maintains these records on your behalf in both a paper hard copy and for easy access, a secure online accessible data warehouse.

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