first wave for 2007 funding year out soon
We can expect to see the Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDL) for first wave of Funding Year 2007 coming out soon.If you're only requesting basic telephone services (i.e., just local, long...
View ArticleMontana Site Visits
I was just looking over information posted on the SLD website about site visits.It appears that they've conducted 19 in Montana thus far - 18 schools and 1 library. That's a lot of scrutiny considering...
View Articleoverview of the technology plan approval review process
This is from the SLD News Brief of 3/23/07. Apparently, they're very big on the creation date of your technology plan so I would be sure that you have at least a draft of your current plan dated prior...
View Article486 and tech plan requirement
With the first wave of funding commitments for 2007 coming out, we need to look at options for filing Form 486.Those libraries that requested funding for only basic telephone services can go ahead and...
View Articlewebjunction webinar on techatlas
I just viewed the archived WebJunction webinar from last week on TechAtlas for the Rural LibraryI thought I'd snag a few of the comments from the chat feature:Why do a hardware/software...
View Articleselective reviews
SLD has provided a lot of information on their website RE: selective...
View Articleselective reviews and tech planning
Having to prepare for potential selective reviews is going to take some planning. And what better place to take some of these requirements into consideration than your technology plan!ConnectivityI...
View ArticleTen Rules for E-Rate Success
This is an abbreviated version of a December 2007 special report. I think it's good advice.To read the full report:http://www.lyponline.com/infocus/1207/Special_Report.htmRule 1: E-rate is not, and...
View ArticleE-Rate audits
Just a heads up that there are audits of e-rate applicants in process. These are courtesy of the Federal Communication Commission Office of the Inspector General. They've hired a private firm - KPMG -...
View Articlegao survey on e-rate
I just found out today that the GAO (General Accounting Office) is circulating a survey on the E-Rate process among selected applicants.Like much of the E-Rate process, the survey can seem somewhat...
View Articlegoogle group up and running
Google decided not to let me set up a group with all or most of the members added automatically. So, I had to send out invitations to all the Montana libraries participating in the E-Rate program. That...
View ArticleBANDWIDTH - BANDWIDTH - BANDWIDTH!
Forget about beauty, wealth and thinness. For libraries, it's all about bandwidth. You can't have too much internet bandwidth in this day and age. As this ad from Hong Kong points out. You don't have...
View ArticleForm 471 Window Opens
The FY2009 application filing window opened at 10 a.m MST on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 and will close at 9:59 p.m. MST on Thursday, February 12, 2009. The filing window will be open for 73 days....
View ArticleWhat do I need to do to get E-Rate?
I'm going to take some information off the slides I used for Fall Workshop to answer this question. You'll notice that I separate it into 4 different levels. The amount of effort required is directly...
View ArticleWhat do you need when you file Form 471?
This year's deadline to file Form 471 online is February 12, 2009 at 9:59pm MST.So what do you need to have with you when you go online?Form 470Your 471 is based on your 470 so you want to make sure...
View Articlecalculating discounts for libraries
Donna Caban and I put together a spreadsheet last fall for Montana public libraries to use to determine their E-Rate discounts. It's linked from here on the right under 2008 Discounts.Feel free to...
View ArticleLast minute E-Rate tips
Here are a few tips from Linda Schatz to maintain your sanity for these last few hours of the window today and tomorrow.After you submit your application online, I would recommend that you go to:“Apply...
View ArticleBroadband Stimulus and E-rate
You've probably heard about the federal stimulus package and the broadband plan within that. Bob Cooper and others have sent emails to wired-mt on it.I'll try to explain some of the basics of it here...
View ArticleOctober E-Rate deadlines
October 29, 2009 is the deadline for filing Form 486 for FY 2009-10 for many of you. This dealine applies if you received your Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) on or before July 1, 2009....
View Articlee-rate form 471 window opened on 12/3/09
The window for the E-Rate Form 471 FY 2010-2011 opened on December 3, 2009 at 12 noon EST (10am MST). It closes at 11:59 pm EST (9:59pm MST) on Thursday, February 11, 2010.If you haven't yet filed Form...
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