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Hi folks! I wanted to send out more information about the FCC Form 470 and CABIO exemption. My apologies in advance for the long email! As you all know, the filing window opens TODAY!! The filing window is open January 18th - March 28th (that is when you can file the FCC Form 471). For those of you filing the FCC Form 470, that means you must do so by Feb. 28th in order to wait the mandatory 28-day period between filing the 470 and filing the 471. I wouldn't recommend waiting until the deadline to file your 470. Categories of Service: First, you need to determine which category (or categories) of service<https://www.usac.org/e-rate/learn/faqs/eligible-services/#Classification-of-Category-One-and-Category-Two-services> you'll be needing for FY23 (fiscal year 2023-2024). There are two funding categories for types of services, and you can file for one or both. To be sure all the services/equipment you may want are eligible for E-Rate funding, please check the most updated FY 23 Eligible Services List<https://click.outreach.usac.org/?qs=f3eb6e01fdf6c1d8d50f409ad847dac1d79d77709ecb6c086a78a4cf7e53d0f92d66cfdd15c54949de13f3a5a03f37c507d1e5903dbbe97a>. * Category One services : Services that bring broadband service to your library. Eligible services are classified as Data Transmission and/or Internet Access Services (i.e. leased lit fiber, Internet access over fiber or copper, commercially available internet access through a cable provider or satellite internet). * Category Two services: services or equipment necessary to transport information within the library. There are three service types; 1. Internal Connections: cabling, switches, routers, modems, and wireless access points (and software/licenses that are required to make any of those work) 2. Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections: repair and upkeep of eligible internal connections (services to deploy bug fixes, patches, etc.), multi-year maintenance service subscriptions (updates to existing software - *remember that only maintenance services provided for the current funding year are eligible, so if you have multi-year subscriptions, you should request those annually for 1/3 price over three years). 3. Managed internal broadband services: managed Wi-Fi agreements. When seeking services/equipment, you'll want to work with your IT staff, or for libraries within the Regional System - your LISS and NSC, for recommendations. **You should also verify with your local finance office whether or not local procurement rules require you to go out to official bid and if they have specific documentation you need to utilize when going through the competitive bidding process** USAC also requires you to issue an RFP (request for proposal) for certain services (whether your local guidelines require it or not) such as leased dark fiber or self-provisioned networks, for example. Please refer to USAC's Request for Proposals requirements<https://www.usac.org/e-rate/applicant-process/competitive-bidding/> (scroll down to the Requests for Proposals section) to determine when the E-Rate program rules require you to submit an RFP. FCC Form 470: This is the form that kicks off a new cycle of E-Rate funding and opens the competitive bidding process. You file the FCC Form 470 in your EPC portal<https://forms.universalservice.org/portal/login> (the link to the form is on your Applicant Landing Page, top right-side) To see a helpful list of Competitive Bidding & FCC Form 470 FAQs from USAC, click here!<https://www.usac.org/e-rate/learn/faqs/competitive-bidding-fcc-form-470/> Here is a good example of one: Q8: Is an FCC Form 470 always required?<https://www.usac.org/e-rate/learn/faqs/competitive-bidding-fcc-form-470/#faq-8> A8: No. There are some limited situations where applicants do not need to submit and certify an FCC Form 470: · If you have a multi-year contract that is still in effect and the costs/services are still within the terms of the establishing FCC Form 470. However, you do need to file a new FCC Form 471 each funding year and use the prior FCC Form 470. · Commercially Available Business class Internet Option (CABIO) Category 1 (C1) services are exempt from the FCC Form 470 posting requirement if they meet certain requirements<https://www.usac.org/e-rate/applicant-process/competitive-bidding/low-cost-high-speed-internet-access/>. Which brings us to the CABIO exemption for seeking Category 1 Internet service! CABIO stands for Commercially Available Business class Internet Option. You must meet ALL THREE of the criteria below to utilize this exemption. * Commercially Available: this means that it is publicly available to non-residential customers in the same form and at the same rates that it is offered to other schools or libraries * Low Cost: this means that the total annual pre-discount cost for service (including installation, taxes, rental fees, etc.) doesn't exceed $3,600 per year per library * High-speed: the service must provide bandwidth speeds of at least 100 mbps downstream and 10 mbps upstream If you want to view information on CABIO from USAC, you can find that here.<https://www.usac.org/e-rate/applicant-process/competitive-bidding/low-cost-high-speed-internet-access/> Again this year, I'm sharing a step-by-step guide for filing the FCC Form 471 utilizing the CABIO exemption (created by and graciously shared with permission from my E-Rate colleague, Julie Tritt Schell, in Pennsylvania). You can find the guide here - http://e-ratepa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/CABIO-Bidding-Exemption-Guide.pdf I know this is a lot of information, but hopefully the provided USAC links will help you navigate the filing process more easily! As always, should you need assistance or have questions there are a number of ways to get help: * You can create a customer service case in your EPC portal * You can call the Client Services Bureau at 888-203-8100 * For those libraries within the Regional System, reach out to your Regional Assistant Director * And you may contact me as well, of course (off-list, please) Happy filing! Liz Thigpen Schreck | Director Ocoee River Regional Library State E-rate Coordinator for Public Libraries Office of Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett 718 George St., NW, Athens, TN 37303 P. (423) 745-5194 - office; (423) 649-1583 - direct Regional Toll Free - (855) 692-8186 Fax (423) 649-1501 [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> This electronic mail may be subject to the Tennessee Public Records Act, Tenn. Code Ann. §10-7-503 et seq. Any reply to this email may also be subject to this act. The mission of the Office of the Secretary of State is to exceed the expectations of our customers, the taxpayers, by operating at the highest levels of accuracy, cost-effectiveness, and accountability in a customer-centered environment. Secretary of State Social Media Links: www.facebook.com/TennesseeSecretaryofState<http://www.facebook.com/TennesseeSecretaryofState> www.facebook.com/TNStateLibraryArchives/timeline<http://www.facebook.com/TNStateLibraryArchives/timeline>