E-Rate Terminology

Front 1

E-rate:

Back 1

common name for the Universal Service Fund for Schools and Libraries.

Front 2

FCC:

Back 2

Federal Communications Commission, the regulatory agency that oversees the E-rate, among many other responsibilities

Front 3

Telecommunications Act:

Back 3

The Telecommunications Act of 1996, among other things, established the federal universal service support mechanism for eligible schools and libraries.

Front 4

Universal Service Fund:

Back 4

Provides discounts to telecommunications carriers for delivering affordable telecommunications services to various categories of customers, including schools and libraries.

Front 5

SLD:

Back 5

Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Service Administrative Company responsible for administering universal service.

Front 6

USAC:

Back 6

The Universal Service Administrative Company is the parent company responsible for overseeing the administration of the Universal Service Fund.

Front 7

Client Service Bureau (CSB):

Back 7

E-rate help desk where applicant and service providers can get answers to questions. 1-888-203-8100

Front 8

Program Integrity Assurance (PIA):

Back 8

eam that reviews funding requests for compliance with FCC rules

Front 9

Technical Client Service Bureau (TCSB):

Back 9

Team answering technical questions about eligible services and program rules.

Front 10

Form 470:

Back 10

Description of Services Requested is first step required of applicants.

Front 11

Form 471:

Back 11

The Services Ordered form is the second step required of applicants.

Front 12

Form 486

Back 12

The Receipt of Services Confirmation form is the third step required of applicants.

Front 13

Form 500:

Back 13

The Adjustment of Funding Commitment and Modification to Receipt of Services Confirmation form filed by applicants for changes to or cancellation of a funding commitment request.

Front 14

Form 472

Back 14

The Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) form filed by applicants seeking reimbursements for bills paid in full, now due a discount.

Front 15

Form 473:

Back 15

The Service Provider Annual Certification form required to be filed annually by participating providers. (Vendor Forms)

Front 16

Form 474:

Back 16

The Service Provider Invoice Form used to invoice the SLD for the discounted cost of E-rate services delivered and not paid for in full by the applicant.

Front 17

Form 498:

Back 17

The Service Provider Information Form must be filed to apply for a Service Provider Identification Number.

Front 18

Form 470 Receipt Notification Letter ("RNL"):

Back 18

Sent to applicants informing them of the date their 470 was posted to the SLD Web site for bidding.

Front 19

RAL:

Back 19

e Receipt Acknowledgement Letter sent to applicants and vendors after the applicant or SLD has entered the information from a Form 471 into its systems.

Front 20

FCDL

Back 20

The Funding Commitment Decisions Letter informing the applicant of the level of discount that has been awarded on each funding request. This letter is sent to the applicants and vendors.

Front 21

Entity Number:

Back 21

A number assigned to each entity applicant used to track applications for that applicant at SLD. Often called the billed entity number.

Front 22

Form 470 Number:

Back 22

A 15-digit number (formerly the Universal Service Control Number) assigned to all Form 470 applications filed with the SLD.

Front 23

Form 471 Number:

Back 23

Assigned to each Form 471 filed after data entry and used to track the 471 at SLD; can be up to ten digits.

Front 24

FRN:

Back 24

A Funding Request Number is assigned to each item in Block 5 of the Form 471 and is described in the Funding Commitment Decisions Letter.

Front 25

SPIN:

Back 25

A unique nine-digit number given to service providers after submitting Form 473 and needed by applicants for completion of the Form 471.

Front 26

Eligible Entity:

Back 26

Any school, library, or consortium eligible to participate in the E-rate program.

Front 27

Billed Entity:

Back 27

he organization that pays the bill, writes the check for services delivered.

Front 28

Consortium:

Back 28

A group of organizations or institutions that join together for the purpose of contracting for and applying for E-rate funds

Front 29

Service Provider/Vendors:

Back 29

business or organization that sells connections or equipment necessary for communications.

Front 30

Tariffed services:

Back 30

elephone service (e.g., local and long distance) regulated by state and federal officials.

Front 31

POTS:

Back 31

Plain Old Telephone Service for placing and receiving phone calls.

Front 32

Common Carrier:

Back 32

Any telecommunications company that provides telecommunications services for a fee to the general public or to businesses.

Front 33

Month-to-Month Contract:

Back 33

Services billed on a monthly basis without a formal, written contract

Front 34

Prediscount Cost

Back 34

Cost of service before E-rate discount is applied.

Front 35

Internal Connections:

Back 35

The wires and equipment needed for connecting computers within an entity.

Front 36

Shared Services:

Back 36

Services delivered to more than one site; discount based on average or aggregate level. Site-Specific Services: Services delivered to only one entity, such as a single school.

Front 37

Weighted Average:

Back 37

The calculated amount of discount that reflects the number of students eligible, for instance, the National Free Lunch Program for a school district.

Front 38

Window:

Back 38

Time during which all Form 471s are treated as if filed on same day.