E-Rate Form 471
At HWC Consultants, we assist clients with E-Rate consulting, telecom optimization audits and project management, and contract negotiations with service providers. As part of the process for applying for the E-Rate program, applicants must submit the Form 471, which is different for Category 1 and Category 2.
The Form 471 is the “Description of Services Ordered and Certification Form.” This is the second form that must be filed by a school or library in the process of applying for E-Rate services. The purpose of the form is for the applicant to list all contracts with service providers, dates of service, and pricing for services for which the applicant is requesting reimbursements for the upcoming funding year.
For new services, contracts should be uploaded first. For existing Internet services, an applicant must have a current copy of the contract (if applicable) and an invoice available to verify the recurring monthly costs and bandwidth. (If it is a new service, applicants should use a contract instead to provide this information).
It is important to ensure that your EPC portal profile is accurate, including total student enrollment, endowment, eligible student count, and Category 2 student count.
The legal name of a service provider may be different from the name they use in business. The USAC’s basic search mechanism is very sensitive to a company name, and reviewers will frequently question apparent mismatches between SPIN and Service Provider names. If the applicant has any doubts, they should call the service provider’s sales representative directly.
For contract services, pay strict attention to the Contract Award Date. This must be on or after the Allowable Vendor Selection/Contract Date determined by the Form 470 filing in which the associated service requirement was posted, which must be on or before the date Form 471 is signed and submitted. The Service Start and End Dates refer to the start of service (beginning of the upcoming funding year) and the end of service (either the contract end date or the last service date of the upcoming funding year).
In the Form 471, different line items (called FRNs or Funding Request Numbers) cover different services. If your organization includes annexes, ensure you attach each FRN to either the main entity or the annex. Non-Instructional Facilities (NIFs) are eligible for Category 1, but not Category 2.
Put as many details as possible in the narrative, and allocate out any ineligible costs (such as the percentage of costs covering students under age 3). Add taxes, fees, etc. on existing contracts. On a new contract, these must be paid out of pocket in the first year, as those costs will be unknown.
Form 471s can be filed online in the E-Rate productivity Center (EPC) during specific application filing periods each year, which are announced on USAC’s website at some point in late December or early January. Forms 471 must be filed on or before 11:59 PM EDT on the date the filing window closes. Prior steps for the Form, like Form 470s and demographic updates in EPC, should be prepared in fall/winter so they can be submitted ASAP when the window opens in January.
As E-Rate consultants, HWC can help with the application process. If you are in need of assistance, reach out to us for comprehensive E-Rate consulting services!
