How to Apply

Relief for Schools and Libraries Affected by Hurricane Katrina

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has provided special relief for applicants affected by Hurricane Katrina.  (See FCC 05-178, released October 14, 2005.)  Some relief pertains to Funding Year 2005 (FY2005) applications and some to applications that will be made for FY2006.  A special application filing window has been opened for applicants to take advantage of this relief for FY2005. This window opened on October 14, 2005 and will close on December 13, 2005.

Applicants that can apply for relief from the effects of Hurricane Katrina fall into two general categories:

• Directly affected applicants — schools and libraries that are located in the counties and parishes declared as eligible for individual disaster assistance AND that incurred substantial damage as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
• Indirectly affected applicants — schools and libraries handling at least a 10% increase in students or library patrons due to Hurricane Katrina.

Directly affected applicants can:

• Submit a new application (if necessary) to restore their networks to pre-Katrina functionality
• Request an increase to a 90% discount level on an existing FY2005 application (approved or pending) for directly affected entities
• Submit a new application that includes an increase to a 90% discount level for directly affected entities
• Apply for service substitutions across categories of services on an existing FY2005 application (approved or pending)
• Request a waiver of the Two out of Five rule for FY2005
• Reduce or cancel a funding commitment for schools and libraries too severely damaged to receive services in FY2005.

Indirectly affected applicants can:

• Submit a new application (if necessary) to request additional products and/or services to serve the increased number of students or library patrons.
• Request an increase in your discount rate on a currently-filed application. Given we are treating all Katrina evacuees as eligible for NSLP, an entity may see its discount rate increase as a result of the increased percentage of NSLP students.
  

An applicant can purchase off an existing contract, if that contract resulted from a valid Description of Services Requested and Certification (Form 470) and encompasses the new or additional products and/or services requested.  Otherwise, applicants must file new Forms 470 and new Description of Services Ordered and Certification Forms (Forms 471).  Options for directly affected applicants are not mutually exclusive. For example, a directly affected applicant can increase discounts for directly affected entities to 90% on an existing Form 471 and also submit a Form 470 and Form 471 for new services.

All program rules that were not specifically waived by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continue to apply to applications submitted for this special Katrina window.

The deadlines for submissions are:

• New Form 470 — must be posted in time to wait 28 days before selecting a service provider; signing a contract, if applicable; signing, dating and submitting a Form 471 before the close of the special window.
• New Form 471 — must be postmarked by 11:59 P.M. EST on December 13, 2005.
• Service substitution requests — must be postmarked or filed electronically by 11:59 P.M. on January 26, 2006.

For specific guidance, please follow the appropriate link(s) below:

• How to apply to restore your network to pre-Katrina functionality
• How to request an increase in your current discount on existing applications
• How to apply for an expanded service substitution
• How to request a waiver of the Two out of Five Rule for FY2005
• How to apply for additional products and services if you are serving evacuees
• Special Hurricane Katrina certifications

The instructions that follow each include an expedited mailing address for that request. If you are submitting multiple requests or applications, you may submit them all to the Schools and Libraries forms processing center in Lawrence, KS, using the following address:

SLD Forms
ATTN: Special Hurricane Katrina Requests
3833 Greenway Dr
Lawrence, KS 66046
Phone: 888-203-8100

USAC is committed to assist applicants through this process and to make it as clear as possible.  Please continue to review this special Katrina website for guidance.  For more information, please call the Schools and Libraries Client Service Bureau toll-free at 1-888-203-8100.  Agents are ready to handle your questions.