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Classifying Urban and Rural Locations
These categories are based on definitions adopted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP/HHS). Counties are first classified as either urban or rural depending on the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in which they are located.
Urban Schools and libraries located in metropolitan counties, as measured by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget's Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) method, shall be designated as urban, except for those schools and libraries located within metropolitan counties identified by census block or tract in the "Goldsmith Modification."
Rural Schools and libraries located in non-metropolitan counties, as designated by the MSA method, shall be considered rural. However, portions of urban metropolitan counties may be classified as rural if their census block or tract number is identified by the "Goldsmith Modification" table. The "Goldsmith Modification" identifies rural pockets within larger urban metropolitan counties.
The MSA table along with the "Goldsmith Modification" will be posted on the SLC Website (www.slcfund.org) (This website is expected to be available in January) (Ed NOTE: Now located at http://www.sl.universalservice.org/) and the NECA Website (www.neca.org). A paper copy of the MSA table and "Goldsmith Modification" is also available, upon request, from the Schools and Libraries Corporation.
Sample of the MSA Table:
| STATE | METROPOLITAN AREA | COMPONENT COUNTIES | COMPONENT CITIES/TOWNS | GOLDSMITH MODIFICATION Census Tract/BNA |
| New Mexico | Albuquerque | Bernalillo County | ||
| New Mexico | Albuquerque | Sandovall County | 0101, 0102, 0103, 0104, 0105.01 | |
| New Mexico | Albuquerque | Valencia County | ||
| New Mexico | Las Cruces | Dona Ana County | 0014, 0019 | |
| New Mexico | Santa Fe | Los Alamos County | ||
| New Mexico | Santa Fe | Santa Fe County | 0101, 0102, 0130.01 |
If your county is indicated on the MSA table, you are considered urban, unless your specific street address falls within one of the listed "Goldsmith Modification" tract numbers.
An example of how the MSA table can be used:
If a school or library is located in a New Mexico county that is not identified on the MSA table, it would be considered "rural." Additionally, if the entity is located in the Santa Fe Metropolitan Area, Santa Fe County, it may still be urban or rural. If it is determined that the address of the school or library is located in Census Tract 0102, for example, it would be considered "rural." If the address is not located in a "Goldsmith Modification" tract, it is "urban."
To determine whether your street address is within one of the listed tract numbers you may contact the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) Website (www.ffiec.gov).
You may also contact the U.S. Census Bureau within your state for help in determining rural status. Census Bureau Regional Information Center phone numbers are included with the MSA tables.
Eligible Services
Eligible schools and libraries may purchase all commercially available telecommunications services at discounted prices. Internet access, and installation and maintenance of internal connections are also eligible for discounted rates. Schools and libraries will have maximum flexibility to purchase the services that they believe will meet their needs most effectively and efficiently. Schools and libraries may choose from a wide array of telecommunications services and technologies, including, for example, basic telephone service, a T-1 line, and wireless telecommunications services, and these services may be purchased from various service providers. Please note that not all of the eligible services may be available in all areas throughout the country. (Note - The FCC has authority to revise service eligibility determinations.)
Examples of Eligible Services
| Examples of Ineligible Services
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Examples of Eligible Internal Connections
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Examples of Ineligible Internal Connections
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SLC has adopted the following Policy Statement on Certification that Services are Being Used for Educational Purposes:
The primary purpose of the services for which support is sought must be the delivery of services into classrooms or other places of instruction at schools and libraries that meet the statutory definition of an eligible institution. Support for the administrative functions of library or education programs is permitted so long as the services are part of the network of shared services for learning. Universal service support will be limited to services delivered to the onsite educational facility or facilities. Services at a personal residence or at locations that do not host places of instruction or are not accessible to library patrons, with the exception of a centralized district office or similar facility, are not eligible for support.
Rules of Priority
The fund administrator, SLC, will track the amount of commitments for disbursing discounts to determine how much of the $2.25 billion annual fund is available, and how much has been committed. When expenditures in a funding year reach the level where only $250 million remains before the cap will be reached, monies will be committed in accordance with the following rules of priority.
Pre-existing Contracts
The FCC established a competitive bidding system that supplements local and state bidding requirements. The FCC requires the posting of detailed requests for services for 28 days on a website, thus making the information available to potential service providers.
A key date for determining the treatment of pre-existing contracts is November 8, 1996 (the date that the Federal-State Joint Board issued its recommendations for the schools and libraries program).
Multi-year contracts that have been signed prior to November 8, 1996, do not require the 28 day website posting, regardless of the length of the contract. Annual requests for renewal of the discounts may be submitted without renegotiating contract terms or website posting of the service request. Contracts signed between November 8, 1996, and the date that the website is open for receiving applications, also do not require web postings for services provided on or before December 31, 1998. Once the SLC website becomes operational all new requests for services are subject to the 28 day website posting as well as to applicable local and state competitive bidding requirements.
The rules for pre-existing contracts are under reconsideration by the FCC.
What schools and libraries must do before applying for discounted services
1. A technology plan must be developed to ensure that the school or library has the ability to use the services once they are purchased. Schools and libraries must prepare technology plans covering the current, next, and future years. Technology plans should specify how schools and libraries plan to integrate the use of these technologies into their curricula and programs.
The FCC order indicates that a technology assessment must be conducted which includes, to the extent applicable to the services requested, the following:
Note: schools and libraries must also certify that they have funds budgeted and approved to meet their financial obligations to pay for the "non-discounted" portion of their requested services and to pay for the other components, set out in their technology plans, for the current funding year. The certification requirements are intended to assure that the schools and libraries will be able to use the discounts cost-effectively and to impose accountability on the part of schools and libraries.
2. The technology plans must receive independent approval, ideally by a state agency that oversees schools or libraries. The SLC also has authority to approve technology plans, which will be available in cases where no other approving authority is in place. If a school or library has a technology plan that has already been approved for another purpose, e.g., for participation in federal or state programs such as "Goals 2000" or the Technology Literacy Challenge, it will be accepted without need for further independent approval. Schools and Libraries Application Process
(Detailed instructions for completing applications are included with the forms.)
1. The applicant must submit the Description of Services Requested and Certification Form (FCC Form 470). The Description of Services Requested and Certification can be entered by the applicant over the Internet to the Schools and Libraries Corporation Website (www.slcfund.org) (This website is expected to be available in January) (Ed NOTE: Now located at http://www.sl.universalservice.org/) upon commencement of its ability to receive applications, or mailed to the SLC. Please do not use the SLC e-mail address to submit forms; all electronic submissions should be made through the SLC website. Additional electronic submission methods are under investigation. Information on this effort, when available, will be posted on the SLC website. The Description of Services, when prepared on paper, may be sent through the mails to the SLC. If entered over the Internet, which is the more timely means for submitting requests, a hard copy of the Certification page must be printed, signed by an authorized individual, and mailed to the SLC. Applicants may check the website for the posting of their requests for services. Additionally, the SLC will undertake special efforts to inform applicants who may not have ready access to the Internet of the posting of their Request for Services. In any event, SLC will mail a notice of receipt and posting of the Request for Services on the Website, within 7-10 days (Website Posting Confirmation). Schools or libraries wishing to apply for discounts for pre-existing contracts must also submit FCC Form 470, describing the pre-existing contract. Eligible entities can submit more than one request (FCC Form 470) per funding year.
2. Service requests for new services must be posted on the SLC website for 28 days in order to comply with the competitive bidding requirement. (As noted above, SLC will send a Website Posting Confirmation to the applicant.) The school or library may also issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) whose closing date is no earlier that the 28th day of the website posting, and may receive bids either in response to the RFP or the website posting of the request for services. During that time, service providers may offer bids to schools or libraries for the requested services. The applicant is required to wait 28 days from the date of posting before a contract can be signed.
3. At the end of the 28 day website posting, the applicant may select a vendor(s) from the bids received either in response to the website posting or a RFP. Among the criteria to be considered are service quality, prior experience, personnel qualifications, management capability, and schedule compliance, as well as price. Once the service provider is selected, a contract should be executed, with one possible exception. If the school or library chooses to receive service pursuant to or under a tariff, it is not required to execute a contract. Under these circumstances, a contract may be executed, but it is not required to be executed.
4. After a service provider is selected and a contract is signed, the school or library will request the SLC to commit to make payments to the service providers for the costs of the discounts. The school or library does this by submitting the Services Ordered and Certification Form (FCC Form 471) to the SLC. Until the SLC reviews and approves the Form 471, applicants cannot assume that everything they have contracted for will be eligible for discounts. Applicants should therefore exercise caution in signing a contract and consider including appropriate conditions and contingencies. The entity who is responsible for paying the bill should file FCC Form 471.
All schools or libraries will have an initial "window period" to submit their request for commitment (FCC Form 471), during which all applicants will be given equal priority. The window period will begin on the date that the website is open to receive applications. All properly completed applications filed during an initial 75-day window will be treated as if simultaneously received. Both completed applications and commitment requests (FCC Forms 470 and 471) must be received by the 75th day to be treated equally. Forms received after the 75th day will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis.
5. Discounts will be applied as of January 1, 1998 for qualified pre-existing contracts. For contracts covering new services with approved discounts, the discounts will be applied as of the date the contract is signed. The SLC will notify applicants of the approval of commitment of funds.
6. When the service is operational, the school or library will submit the Receipt of Service Notification Form (to be known upon publication as FCC Form 486) to the SLC. At this time, the applicant must certify that its technology plan is approved by an independent third party. After confirmation of the receipt of services, and of certification of the technology plan, the SLC will instruct USAC to credit the discount amount to the telecommunications carrier's Universal Service Fund contribution obligation, or to pay the discount amount to the non-telecommunications service provider.
7. The school or library will pay the service provider for the non-discounted portion of the services.
8. For each year of the discount program, schools and libraries must file new funding requests (FCC Forms 470 and associated Form 471) for services to be provided in the following funding year. These applications will be accepted each July 1st beginning in 1998. Funding is on a calendar year basis, beginning January 1st of each year. While schools and libraries may enter into multi-year contracts, the funded support will only be committed for services delivered in the current funding year. Schools and libraries must reapply for discounts each year.
It is important to realize that discounts cannot be guaranteed for subsequent years. Multiple year discount commitments will not be granted.
For more complete guidance, contact our Client Service Help Desk by toll-free telephone at 1-888-203-8100, or by e-mail (question@slcfund.org).
For additional information, visit the following Websites:
A one-way (non-interactive) listserver set up to send e-mail on the FCC's latest updates and suggestions for preparing your health care facility to get the most out of communications technology. To subscribe to FCCsend, send an e-mail to subscribe@info.fcc.gov. In the message space, write "sub FCCsend Chris Brown" (substitute your own first and last name for Chris Brown).
Information to help libraries with the implementation of the universal service fund. Libraries may keep informed about how the Telecommunications Act affects libraries and schools by visiting the ALA's Washington Office Newsline (ALAWON) Archives at [http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon].
On June 3, PBS hosted a live satellite event addressing universal service. This forum has been established by PBS and the live satellite event producer to provide further information about the E-rate as it becomes available and answer your many questions.
The Information Renaissance seeks to provide networking technology to groups and individuals across the region, in the service of education, medicine, business and government. Sponsors an online forum for the Telecommunications Act and E-rate.
The website for the interim administrator of the Universal Service Fund for Schools & Libraries and Rural Health Care.
EdLiNC is the Education & Libraries Networks Coalition. It represents the viewpoint of schools and libraries in FCC proceedings dealing with the implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to ensure that these entities are given the affordable rates guaranteed in the act.
NetDay is a grass-roots, volunteer effort to wire schools so they can network their computers and connect them to the Internet. Labor and materials come from volunteers and support from companies, unions, parents, teachers, students and school employees.
If you receive service from an intermediate education service agency in your region, you may also phone them for information.
The U. S. Department of Education has also established six Regional Technology in Education Consortia (R*TEC) to help integrate technologies into schools. The following list will help you reach the Consortium in your area:
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Appalachia Educational Laboratory, Inc. (AEL) 1031 Quarrier Street P.O. Box 1348 Charleston, WV 25325-1348 Phone: (800) 624-9120 Fax: (304) 347-0487 http://www.ael.org |
Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL) 101 SW Main Street, Suite 500 Portland, OR 97204 Phone: (800) 547-6339 Fax: (503) 275-0448 http://www.nwrel.org |
Northeast and Islands Laboratory at Brown University (LAB) 222 Richmond Street, Suite 300 Providence, RI 02903-4226 Phone: (401) 274-9548 Fax: (401) 421-7650 http://www.lab.brown.edu | Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) 828 Fort Street Mall, Suite 500 Honolulu, HI 96813-4321 Phone: (808) 533-6000 Fax: (808) 533-7599 http://www.prel.hawaii.edu |
| The Mid-Atlantic Laboratory for Student Success (LSS) at Temple University 933 Ritter Annex, 13th and Cecil B. Moore Philadelphia, PA 19122 Phone: (215) 204-3001 Fax: (215) 204-5130 http://www.temple.edu/departments/lss |
Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL) 211 East Seventh Street, Second Floor Austin, TX 78701-3281 Phone: (512) 476-6861 Fax: (512) 476-2286 http://www.sedl.org |
| Mid-continent Regional Educational Laboratory McREL) 2550 South Parker Road, Suite 500 Aurora, CO 80014 Phone: (800) 949-6387 Fax: (303) 337-3005 http://www.mcrel.org |
Southeastern Regional Vision for Education (SERVE) P.O. Box 5367 Greensboro, NC 27435 Phone: (800)755-3277 Fax: (910) 334-3268 http://www.serve.org |
| North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL) 1900 Spring Road, Suite 300 Oak Brook, IL 60521-1480 Phone: (630) 571-4700 Fax: (630) 571-4716 http://www.ncrel.org |
WestEd 730 Harrison Street San Francisco, CA 94107-1242 Phone: (800) 645-3276 Fax: (415) 565-3012 http://www.fwl.org |
