Category 1 Internet Access Options

As we're coming down to the wire for Form 470 for E-rate FY 2018, there appears to be some confusion about what to select for Internet Access. I found this handy chart on E-rate Central:

A couple of the key takeaways from this is that if you're looking for complete Internet service - lines and data, you need to ask for Leased Lit Fiber and/or Internet Access and Transport Bundled. If you're willing to consider fiber and/or you'll be getting it sometime before or during the 2018 funding year, you need to put in both. In the narrative you can offer an explanation, for example, when the transition is expected to take place or any restrictions you might have.

Sample Internet Use Policies from ALA

It's a good idea to review and possibly revise your Internet Use Policy (and other library policies) every few years to make sure it reflects the views of your board and community. As Internet Use Policies are also a requirement of CIPA (Children's Internet Protection Act) and must comply with this act in order to receive most E-rate funds, links to CIPA specific information on policies and filtering are included below.

ALA has information on Internet Use Policies and some samples from around the country on their website:
Libraries and the Internet Toolkit

There's a new document on CIPA compliance:
Changes To The E-rate Program And Complying With CIPA: A Brief FAQ

As well as some new guidelines on how to minimize the effect of filtering:
Guidelines to Minimize the Negative Effects of Internet Content Filters on Intellectual Freedom

Here is the link to information on CIPA and its requirements from USAC

Are you ready for E-rate FY 2018?

USAC recently announced the dates for the 471 window for 2018 in a special news brief: http://usac.org/sl/tools/news-briefs/preview.aspx?id=808  :

Some of the key points:

• Funding Year (FY) 2018 FCC Form 471 application filing window opens Thursday, January 11, 2018, at 12:00 noon EST (10:00 AM MST) and closes on Thursday, March 22, 2018, at 11:59 PM EDT (9:59 PM MDT). 
• Applicants can begin preparing now for the successful filing of their FY 2018 funding applications by taking the following steps:
• Install Browser Updates: Google Chrome is the preferred browser for EPC, but no matter which browser you use, be sure the latest version is installed on your computer.
• Establish Account and User Rights: If this is your first year participating in the E-rate program, call our Client Service Bureau at 888-203-8100 to create your account in the E-rate Productivity Center (EPC). If you already have an EPC account, log in and review, update and/or assign user rights for persons who will need access for FY 2018.
• Update Your EPC Profile Now: To ensure a smoother filing process, EPC profiles will lock on January 10, 2018, at 11:59 PM EST (9:59 PM MST). You will not be able to make changes to your EPC profile after that date. 
• Proceed With Competitive Bidding: If you have not started the competitive bidding process by filing your FCC Form 470, please begin now. Remember that you must wait 28 days after filing the FCC Form 470 before entering into an agreement and filing your application. Waiting for the filing window to open is not necessary. 

A few other helpful updates:

• For those of you considering upgrading to fiber instead of the DSL or cable you've had until now, the suggestion from USAC was that you file a 470 ASAP requesting bids on leased lit fiber with a note to include Internet service. After the 28 days, you can see if the bids were affordable. If so, you can go ahead and make the upgrade. If not, and it's the end of January, you still have time to put in another 470 with a new request for Internet Access and Transport Bundled.
  My State E-rate Coordinator colleagues don't see why you couldn't accomplish the same thing with one Form 470 with a request for Internet Access and Transport Bundled AND Leased Lit Fiber. You would have to be able to sort out the bids in Bid Evaluation Matrix. I know the dropdown box with service types is pretty complicated. USAC has come up with some instructions to help you make the right selection for your needs and budget: http://www.usac.org/_res/documents/sl/pdf/handouts/FCC-Form-470-C1-Dropdown-Table.pdf
• There are also new CIPA Guidelines available from ALA. 
• Changes To The E-rate Program And Complying With CIPA: A Brief FAQ: It includes some clarification on when and by whom filters can be disabled.
• Guidelines to Minimize the Negative Effects of Internet Content Filters on Intellectual Freedom

If you are new to the program, you may find helpful some of the recorded webinars on the USAC training site http://www.usac.org/sl/about/outreach/online-learning.aspx#webinars.

Note that there are new ones coming including changes to Forms 470 and 471. But I would probably start with the August 2017 E-rate Training for Beginners under Webinars at the bottom of the page.

Yes, you've been funded. Now what?

Ran a report today and found the following FRNs have been funded for the following libraries:

1699000318 BELGRADE COMMUNITY LIBRARY
1699061543 BELGRADE COMMUNITY LIBRARY
1699025056 BRIDGER PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699025063 BRIDGER PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699142851 CARNEGIE PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699095502 CHOTEAU -TETON LIBRARY
1699095521 CHOTEAU -TETON LIBRARY
1699035686 CHOUTEAU COUNTY LIBRARY
1699035696 CHOUTEAU COUNTY LIBRARY
1699035711 CHOUTEAU COUNTY LIBRARY
1699009156 DANIELS COUNTY LIBRARY
1699009157 DANIELS COUNTY LIBRARY
1699140427 DARBY COMMUNITY PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699142692 DARBY COMMUNITY PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699142790 DARBY COMMUNITY PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699069370 FALLON COUNTY LIBRARY
1699045131 FLATHEAD COUNTY LIBRARY
1699045149 FLATHEAD COUNTY LIBRARY
1699045167 FLATHEAD COUNTY LIBRARY
1699041303 GREAT FALLS PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699041313 GREAT FALLS PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699041324 GREAT FALLS PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699033700 HARLOWTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699033702 HARLOWTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699033705 HARLOWTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699053529 HENRY MALLEY MEMORIAL LIBRARY
1699053608 HENRY MALLEY MEMORIAL LIBRARY
1699136701 JOLIET PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699139416 JUDITH BASIN CO FREE LIBRARY
1699141200 JUDITH BASIN CO FREE LIBRARY
1699134715 LAUREL PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699134720 LAUREL PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699055894 LEWIS & CLARK PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699055936 LEWIS & CLARK PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699055972 LEWIS & CLARK PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699055999 LEWIS & CLARK PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699056010 LEWIS & CLARK PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699056023 LEWIS & CLARK PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699070412 LEWISTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699111786 MADISON VALLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699111805 MADISON VALLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699111819 MADISON VALLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699064652 MEAGHER CO-CITY LIBRARY
1699052392 MEAGHER CO-CITY LIBRARY
1699052394 MEAGHER CO-CITY LIBRARY
1699052396 MEAGHER CO-CITY LIBRARY
1699032061 Mineral County Public Library System
1699051224 Mineral County Public Library System
1699051807 Mineral County Public Library System
1699134746 MOORE PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699134749 MOORE PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699060423 NORTH VALLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699060431 NORTH VALLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699060442 NORTH VALLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699060592 NORTH VALLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699061622 PETROLEUM COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
1699071536 PHILLIPS COUNTY LIBRARY
1699031972 PHILLIPS COUNTY LIBRARY
1699031978 PHILLIPS COUNTY LIBRARY
1699111603 PRESTON TOWN/COUNTY LIBRARY
1699111634 PRESTON TOWN/COUNTY LIBRARY
1699003880 VALIER PUBLIC LIBRARY

If you're wondering what to do next, go into EPC and look at your notifications. There should be a message about your Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL). You'll need to generate the FCDL to get the information you'll need to file Form 486.

There is a video on the USAC training site that can help you with this: Funding Commitment Decision Letter

Choose the one for applicants. This is important. It's the payoff for the work you've put in thus far.

Getting ready for 471

While the 471 window has yet to be announced by USAC, there are some things you can and should do to get ready.

1. File your Form 470. Don't wait. Just do it. If you've already filed and have second thoughts about what you asked for, you still have time to file another. But keep in mind the 470 has to be online 28 days before you can file 471.
2. Go into the EPC and check on your library's profile. If there are changes to be made, go ahead and get them done now. Make sure that your Account Administrator is correct. Remember you can have multiple people with access and privileges within EPC. Check on your applicant attributes. Make sure you're a public library. And if you're a sole library and/or the main library in a system, make sure it's marked as the main library. Also check your urban or rural status. I believe all of these things can be fixed in the manage organization tab.
3. If you have any contracts, go ahead and enter that information. You might also take the opportunity to upload a copy of the contract to your account. That can save time if PIA wants to look at it later.

That should get you started. I'll keep you posted as we wait for the announcement of the 471 window.

Archived Training Videos for 2015 E-Rate After Modernization Order

We did create a few videos to try to help you understand the changes and the E-Rate application process as it stands today in 2015:

• E-Rate 471 - https://vimeo.com/117403089
• Working Our Way through E-Rate Changes 2015 - https://vimeo.com/115014222

You may also be interested in some of the videos created by USAC on the changes:

Online Learning Library

E-Rate Changes

I trust many of you have been following the FCC's E-Rate modernization quest. I apologize for not posting anything sooner. I've been waiting for some of the proposed changes to be clarified. But it hasn't happened yet to my satisfaction. And I've heard that some of you are being approached by consultants attempting to profit from your confusion. So, I felt it was time to let you know at least the basics of what's being discussed. I'm going to a training in Portland at the end of this month. Hopefully, I'll be able to explain it a bit better after that.

The change that will have the biggest impact on Montana libraries is the phased out elimination of voice services beginning in FY 2015. Starting next year, they will reduce funding for POTS, long distance, cellular, fax, etc. by 20% a year. So, if you have a 70% discount in 2015, you'll only get 50% discounts on your phone service funding requests. In 2016, that will be reduced further to 30%.

There are also proposed changes to how urban and rural status are determined. I don't even pretend to understand this at them moment. Nor have I seen any clear data that shows which Montana libraries will be affected. But I am keeping an eye on this and will let you know as soon as I have some definitive information. And worst, your library could lose 10% of your discount if you are currently designated rural and that changes to urban.

The main focus of E-Rate modernization is a shift toward broadband and higher speed broadband. The numbers we hear most often are 100 Mbps for libraries serving populations of 50,000 and below and 1 Gbps for those over 50,000. The expectation is that these higher speeds and greater capacity will be necessary to meet future needs. And that it's going to cost more, so they want E-Rate discounts to go to help meet those increased costs.

For many Montana public libraries, which have only been receiving E-Rate discounts on phone service, this is going to bring up a couple of potential issues. One is, how will you make up for the loss in phone subsidies? Another is, how are you going to pay for higher broadband capacity? Yes, there is the possibility of using E-Rate to help pay for that, but that may entail looking again at CIPA compliance and filtering options.

I think it may be time for us to have some discussions about E-Rate changes. Hopefully, we can set up some GoToMeetings for November after I've attended the training.

In the meantime, if you'd like to do a little reading on the E-Rate Modernization:

• FCC Summary of the E-Rate Modernization Order
• USAC E-Rate Modernization Order Information Page
• ALA Summary of Major Changes to the E-rate Program From the July 11 Report and Order - this last one is where I'd start. It was prepared by Bob Bocher, my E-Rate guru.