We live in a fast paced world and our students need anytime, anywhere access to information that aids in their learning. Providing connections allows us to prepare students for the world. Technology utilized in the classroom can help meet this need and E-rate helps make that technology a reality. Dell is here to support you through your E-rate process with information, tools and a highly trained team. We are committed to the success of our customers and E-rate. Dell prides itself on the scrutiny and ethical process we bring to assisting our customers with the E-rate procedure.
The E-rate program, officially known as Universal Service Funding for Schools and Libraries, was created as a result of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The program was established in part to get schools and libraries connected to the internet. E-rate is the largest and most reliable source of technology funding for K-12 public and private schools in the United States. Since the E-rate program was created, the percentage of U.S. public school classrooms that are connected to the Internet has grown from 27 percent to more than 90 percent.
E-rate discounts can range from 20 to 90 percent on certain types of services and products. This means that the applicant will always have some payment burden when receiving approved services. An applicant will calculate its discount rate based off the number of students eligible for the National School Lunch Program. The discount rate also takes into consideration the poverty level of the area and if the applicant is in a rural or urban area.
Priority Levels
Getting Started
Any time put into planning is a good investment. Operational excellence comes from a methodical design for superior quality, principles to services and measurement. Many successful school districts attribute the time they spent on their technology plan to their ability to get e-rate funds and use them wisely. Getting started means following the plan the USAC outlines for E-rate.
- Determine Eligibility — Federal and state laws determine eligibility of schools, school districts, and libraries. Requirements can be found at http://www.usac.org/sl/applicants/step01/eligibility-requirements.aspx
- Develop a Technology — Plan An approved technology plan must meet five criteria that address goals, strategies, needs, resources, and evaluation. First and foremost, the plan must establish clear goals and a realistic strategy for using telecommunications and information technology to improve education or library services.
- Open a Competitive Bid Process — Use RFPs (Request for Proposal) or other solicitation methods tailored to specific needs and circumstances in addition to the required Form 470.
Select your Provider — Applicants must select the most cost-effective provider of the desired products or services eligible for support, with price as the primary factor. DELL SPIN#143004340 - Calculate the discount level — The primary measure for determining Schools and Libraries support discounts is the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced lunches under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), calculated by individual school. More information can be found at http://www.usac.org/sl/applicants/step05/
- Determine what is Eligible — Services and products may be eligible, not eligible, or conditionally eligible for support. The schools and libraries Eligible Services List provides details about eligible equipment and services and the conditions under which they are eligible at http://www.usac.org/sl/about/overview-process.aspx
Submit Application for Support (Form 471) - Undergo Application Review
- Receive Your Funding Decision — Applicants should carefully review their Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) for details of approved or denied requests.
Begin Receipt of Products and Services Submitting an E-rate Order to Dell: Please include the following: The purchase order must clearly be marked e-rate
The total dollar amount of the PO (Purchase Order) must be submitted
You should note the SLDs portion and school's portion in the body of the PO (Purchase Order)
Terms: 60 days
Funding Commitment Decision Letter
Funding Commitment Report (FRN)
Description of Service (submitted with Form 471)
Signed copy of Form 486
- Invoice USAC — Do you need a BEAR (Billed Entity Application Form) signed and returned to you? Simply submit the form to Dell via fax or email , attention Craig Jackson, at 512-283-9477 or Craig_Jackson@Dell.com. Please state the invoice number and/or the purchase order that this form will be used to file for reimbursement. Please put your contact information and fax number on the cover sheet you send Dell, so that we can return the signed form to you. Please note the original transaction must be paid in full.
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E-rate Eligible Products and Services
Servers used for use as:
- Domain name servers
- E-mail servers
- Firewall servers
- Proxy servers
- Terminal servers
- Web servers (to provide information to Internet users)
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Networking Products:
- Routers
- Switches
- Hubs
- Wireless networking products
- Network interface cards (when priced separately on a contract or sold separately)
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Services:
- Installation services for eligible products
- Maintenance services for eligible products
- Training on eligible products
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Frequently Asked Questions and Resources
K12 News and Alerts
Read the latest e-rate news, so that you do not miss any important program changes or deadlines.
Get the answers to the most frequently asked e-rate questions, plus access additional informational resources from Funds For Learning or the SLD (Schools and Libraries Division).
Review the SLD's posted list of eligible products and services.
Eligible Services Framework
Learn about the SLD's eligibility decision process.
This e-rate site was designed to give you news and alerts on program changes and deadlines, plus provide answers to the most frequently asked e-rate questions. If you need further assistance please contact a K-12 team member at 1-800-283-6633.
