E-Rate Glossary
Anti-Deficiency Act:
Under ADA, new E-rate commitments are limited to un-obligated funds on hand, leading to funding freezes and delays. E-rate is operating under a temporary ADA exemption for 2005. Legislation is pending to make this exemption permanent.
Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement form (FCC Form 472):
The applicant form used to invoice USAC for E-rate discounts on a retroactive basis (when the service provider does not discount applicant bills directly).
Billed Entity Number:
An E-rate program identification number associated with applicants, organizations, or other entities that are billed for Erate eligible services. BENs are a subset of Entity Numbers which are assigned to all E-rate participating organizations and facilities.
Children’s Internet Protection Act:
A law requiring E-rate applicants to have an Internet Safety Policy and to filter Internet service. CIPA applies only to applicants applying for Internet Access and Internal Connections discounts.
Common Carrier:
Any telecommunications company that provides telecommunications services for a fee to the general public or to businesses.
Commitment Adjustment:
A procedure initiated when a SLD funding error is uncovered as a result of additional information and/or review. If funding has already been disbursed, the COMAD procedure will lead to a request for repayment from either the applicant or service provider.
COPAN:
Looks like, but is not actually an acronym. Refers to a FCC decision on an appeal by Copan (OK) Public Schools that established the rules governing SPIN changes.
Client Service Bureau:
The SLD’s helpline and data entry organization located in Lawrence, KS. More complex issues are handled by a smaller, related organization called the Technical Client Service Bureau (“TCSB”). The CSB can be reached by calling 888-203-8100.
Debt Collection Improvement Act:
As applied to the FCC, a law prohibiting any entity owing monies to the FCC from receiving additional benefits.
Federal Communications Commission:
The regulatory agency that oversees the E-rate, among many other responsibilities.
FCC Registration Number:
An identification number assigned to any entity, including E-rate participants, doing business with the FCC. The FCC also refers to these numbers as “FRNs”.
Funding Commitment Decision Letter:
A commitment letter sent to an applicant listing the funding decisions made on every request in the applicant’s Form 471 application. A separate version of the FCDL is also sent the service provider to report funding decisions affecting that provider.
E-rate:
A common name for the Universal Service Fund for Schools and Libraries.
Internal Connections:
The wires and equipment needed for connecting computers within an entity.
Month-to-Month Contract:
Services billed on a monthly basis without a formal, written contract.
NIF Non-Instructional Facility:
A facility owned or controlled by an E-rate applicant that is not officially recognized as a school or library (e.g., administrative office, bus garage, etc.).
NSLP National School Lunch Program:
The free and reduced-priced lunch program that provides the primary indication of school poverty levels upon which an applicant’s discount rate is determined.
PIA Program Integrity Assurance:
The SLD’s application review organization operating out of Whippany, NJ.
POTS:
Plain Old Telephone Service for placing and receiving phone calls.
Pre-discount Cost:
Cost of service before E-rate discount is applied.
RAL Receipt Acknowledgement Letter:
A RAL is sent to the applicant to acknowledge the successful filing of a Form 471 application and to permit the applicant to make limited corrections to the application before review. A separate version of the RAL is also sent the associated service providers to report funding requests affecting those providers.
RNL Receipt Notification Letter:
RNLs are sent to the applicant when the SLD has accepted and successfully processed a Form 470. Other notification letters are sent in connection with processed appeals, BEARs, Form 486s, and Form 500s.
SLD:
Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Service Administrative Company responsible for administering universal service.
Shared Services:
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.
Service Provider Annual Certification form (FCC Form 473):
An E-rate vendor is required to file a general certification form for each funding year. USAC will not pay any invoice (BEAR or SPI) for any funding year for which a SPAC has not been filed.
SPI Service Provider Invoice form (FCC Form 474):
The service provider form used to invoice USAC for E-rate discounts provided directly to applicants. The SPI is sometimes referred to as a “SPIF.”
Service Provider Identification Number:
A unique, nine-digit, identification number assigned to service providers for E-rate purposes.
Tariff services:
Telephone service (e.g., local and long distance) regulated by state and federal officials.
Telecommunications Act:
The Telecommunications Act of 1996, among other things, established the federal universal service support mechanism for eligible schools and libraries.
TCSB:
Technical Client Service Bureau. See “CSB,” above.
Universal Service Fund:
Provides discounts to telecommunications carriers for delivering affordable telecommunications services to various categories of customers, including schools and libraries.
USAC:
The Universal Service Administrative Company is the parent company responsible for overseeing the administration of the Universal Service Fund. The SLD is one division of USAC.
Waste, Fraud, and Abuse:
E-rate problems, highlighted in the press and in Congress, driving a number of new rules and review procedures.
Weighted Average:
The calculated amount of discount that reflects the number of students eligible, for instance, the National Free Lunch Program for a school district.
Window:
Time during which all Form 471s are treated as if filed on same day.
For more information, please contact:
1-800-435-7989