c. Other Applicant Budget Issues 115 4. Setting an Annual Funding Target for Internal Connections 118 5. Focusing Support on Broadband 119 a. Core Components of Broadband Internal Connections 119 b. Basic Maintenance, Managed Wi-Fi, and Caching 122 6. Other Issues 132 C. Phasing Down and Ending Support for Legacy and Other Non-Broadband Services 134 1. Phasing Down Support for Voice Services 135 2. Eliminating Support for Telephone Features, Outdated Services, and Non-Broadband Services That Do Not Facilitate High- Speed Broadband 144 a. Telephone Features and Outdated Telephone Services 146 b. E-mail, Web Hosting, Voicemail 150 c. Data Plans and Air Cards for Mobile Devices 151 3. Impact on Multiyear Contracts 154 V. 155 A. Increasing Pricing Transparency 158 B. Encouraging Consortia and Bulk Purchasing 168 1. Speeding Review of Consortium Applications 169 2. Preferred Master Contracts 170 a. FCC Form 470 Exception 174 b. Bid Evaluation Requirement 176 3. Authority to Seek Consortium Bids 177 4. Correcting Misconceptions 178 5. Other Rules Changes 182 C. Offering the Lowest Corresponding Price 183 VI. 187 A. Simplifying the Application Process 190 1. Simplifying the Application Process for Multi-Year Contracts 191 2. Eliminating the Technology Plan Requirements 197 3. Exempting Low-Dollar Purchases of Commercially Available Business-Class Internet Access from Competitive Bidding Rules 199 4. Easing the Signed Contract Requirement 203 5. Requiring Electronic Filing of Documents 205 6. Enabling Direct Connections Between Schools and Libraries 207 B. Simplifying Discount Rate Calculations 209 1. Adopting District-Wide Discount Rates 210 2. Updating the Definition of 222 “Rural” 3. Addressing the NSLP Community Eligibility Provision 225 4. Modifying the Requirements for Using School-Wide Income Surveys 230 C. Simplifying the Invoicing and Disbursement Processes 232 1. Allowing Direct Invoicing 233 2. Adopting Invoicing Deadlines 238 D. Creating a Tribal Consultation, Training, and Outreach Program 243 E. Requiring Filing of Appeals with USAC 250 F. Directing USAC to Adopt Additional Measures to Improve the Administration of the rate Program 253 1. Speeding Review of Applications, Commitment Decisions and Funding Disbursements 254 2. Modernizing E-rate Information Technology Systems 256 USAC’s 3. Requiring Open and Accessible E-rate Data 258 4. Adopting Plain Language Review 260
c. Other Applicant Budget Issues 115 4. Setting an Annual Funding Target for Internal Connections 118 5. Focusing Support on Broadband 119 a. Core Components of Broadband Internal Connections 119 b. Basic Maintenance, Managed Wi-Fi, and Caching 122 6. Other Issues 132 C. Phasing Down and Ending Support for Legacy and Other Non-Broadband Services 134 1. Phasing Down Support for Voice Services 135 2. Eliminating Support for Telephone Features, Outdated Services, and Non-Broadband Services That Do Not Facilitate High- Speed Broadband 144 a. Telephone Features and Outdated Telephone Services 146 b. E-mail, Web Hosting, Voicemail 150 c. Data Plans and Air Cards for Mobile Devices 151 3. Impact on Multiyear Contracts 154 V. 155 A. Increasing Pricing Transparency 158 B. Encouraging Consortia and Bulk Purchasing 168 1. Speeding Review of Consortium Applications 169 2. Preferred Master Contracts 170 a. FCC Form 470 Exception 174 b. Bid Evaluation Requirement 176 3. Authority to Seek Consortium Bids 177 4. Correcting Misconceptions 178 5. Other Rules Changes 182 C. Offering the Lowest Corresponding Price 183 VI. 187 A. Simplifying the Application Process 190 1. Simplifying the Application Process for Multi-Year Contracts 191 2. Eliminating the Technology Plan Requirements 197 3. Exempting Low-Dollar Purchases of Commercially Available Business-Class Internet Access from Competitive Bidding Rules 199 4. Easing the Signed Contract Requirement 203 5. Requiring Electronic Filing of Documents 205 6. Enabling Direct Connections Between Schools and Libraries 207 B. Simplifying Discount Rate Calculations 209 1. Adopting District-Wide Discount Rates 210 2. Updating the Definition of “Rural” 222 3. Addressing the NSLP Community Eligibility Provision 225 4. Modifying the Requirements for Using School-Wide Income Surveys 230 C. Simplifying the Invoicing and Disbursement Processes 232 1. Allowing Direct Invoicing 233 2. Adopting Invoicing Deadlines 238 D. Creating a Tribal Consultation, Training, and Outreach Program 243 E. Requiring Filing of Appeals with USAC 250 F. Directing USAC to Adopt Additional Measures to Improve the Administration of the Program 253 1. Speeding Review of Applications, Commitment Decisions and Funding Disbursements 254 2. Modernizing USAC’s E-rate Information Technology Systems 256 3. Requiring Open and Accessible E-rate Data 258 4. Adopting Plain Language Review 260 rate
FCC-14-99A1.docx