What is eligible for E-rate discounts?

Just Announced: The FY2011 Form 471 application filling window will open at noon EST on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 and close at 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, March 24. The window will be open for 73 days.

This article is designed to answer any questions you may have on the eligibility of E-rate funding for the products and services provided by the Foundation for Educational Services (FES).

SOCS Content Management System (CMS)
USAC will only cover the Web Hosting component of a content management system. Costs associated with design, training, and technical support are not eligible for discounts.

Under the Internet Access Category of the Eligible Services List, Web Hosting is listed as needing allocation delineation between eligible and ineligible components. In order to better serve our clients, FES has established a cost allocation model that fairly defines our web hosting costs. 

Certified by USAC, FES allocates 73% (funding year 2012 for contracts dated 9/1/12 - 6/30/13) of the total license agreement as the web hosting component. Your total discount will be based on your Free and Reduced Lunch Program as determined by USAC.

If you are filing for an E-rate discount on SOCS, you will want to list Web Hosting Services as 73% of your total yearly SOCS license cost on the Form 471. All components within the 73% are covered. 

*NOTE: USAC is revising the Form 470 and Form 471. The new forms will be available when the filing window opens on January 11, 2011. The new Form 471 will be required as soon as the new forms become available.

Start up Fees
100% of startup fees are eligible for E-rate funding at a school's Free and Reduced Lunch rate. SOCS services with start up fees that are covered by E-rate are:

• SOCS Content Management System
• Parent Teacher Conference Registration

SOCS Services Not Eligible for E-rate Funding

• Email Archiving
• SOCSLockers
• Listservs

Selection Requirements
Schools are not required to select the lowest cost provider when considering bids from vendors. However, according to the USAC website, “Price must be the primary factor when constructing the evaluation of bid responses.”

Application Assistance
FES continues to proactively research E-rate updates and pending legislation. Our legal team provides added consulting benefits. However, FES cannot assist applicants with some areas of the E-rate program. Since the E-rate program requires an applicant to conduct an open, competitive bidding process, FES cannot help write or develop a Request for Proposals (RFP) or technology plan, help an applicant prepare a Form 470, or be involved in the evaluation of bids received.

Once an applicant selects FES as a service provider, our team may assist customers in the completion of their Form 471, product eligibility questions and payment processes.

FES has made every attempt to ensure the accuracy of information posted on this website. Changes to the E-rate program may occur at any time. We undertake no obligation to publicly update this information. Nor do we make any claim the information posted is complete. The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) has the final authority to approve eligibility and to speak on behalf of the E-rate program.

If you have any questions regarding E-rate funding for SOCS contact us at erate@socs.org. For more information on E-rate requirements visit the USAC website at www.universalservices.org/sl.