e-Rate Support
*The 2012-2013 (Year 15) 471 Filing Window has been announced. The window will open on January 9th 2012, and will close on March 20th, 2012.
e-Rate is a Federal program, created by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), that subsidizes Internet and Telecom services for schools and libraries. The discount rates for each school or library is based on the percentage of National School Lunch Program (NSLP) eligible students and their geographic location. The program was created in 1998 and since its inception it has provided over $185 million to Oregon applicants and over $30 BILLION dollars nationwide.
Willamette ESD provides e-Rate consulting services that allow districts to focus on teaching and learning, while we handle the often confusing application forms and review processes. Our goal is to help districts maximize each dollar and get the most out of the program.
Our Qualifications:
- Our e-Rate coordinator attends USAC sponsored trainings to stay in step with the e-Rate program
- Participates in weekly conference calls with the State e-Rate Coordinators Alliance (SECA) to discuss issues that affect the efficiency and usability of the program
- Participates in Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) sponsored procurement training to ensure that State and Local procurement law is followed in the application process
Training/Outreach/Support:
- Annual trainings to keep you up-to-date on rule changes
- Weekly newsletters with in-depth analysis of changes and their impact on your organization provided by SECA.
- Phone/email support – contact us with questions about the program, and get clarification on how the rules apply to your unique situation
Application Processing:
- Analyzing technology plans for compliance and quality
- Obtaining documents from the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) such as Nutrition Program participation and Technology Plan approval status
- Filing and certification of all e-Rate application forms, from the 470 to the BEAR
- Work directly with USAC to complete PIA and Selective Reviews
- Prepare documentation for review responses and appeals as necessary
Fee Structure:
| WESD Component School Districts | |
|---|---|
|
Commitment of $0 - 9,999 |
Flat fee $700* |
|
Commitment of $10,000- 49,999 |
7% |
|
Commitment of $50,000 - 99,999 |
6% |
|
Commitment of $100,000 or more |
5% |
| Non-Component School Districts | |
|---|---|
|
Commitment of $0 - 9,999 |
Flat fee $1000* |
|
Commitment of $10,000- 49,999 |
10% |
|
Commitment of $50,000 - 99,999 |
9% |
|
Commitment of $100,000 or more |
8% |
*NOTE: There is a minimum charge for work done on small applications or applications that are denied by USAC.
Contact Information
Sabrina Carson
e-Rate Coordinator
Phone: 503.540.4495
Fax: 503.540.2962
sabrina.carson@wesd.org