Step 1 Technology Planning

Program Compliance

USAC reviews certifications made on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) forms for compliance with program rules concerning availability and approval of technology plans.

FCC Form 470 and FCC Form 471

All applicants certify on the FCC Form 470 (Description of Services Requested and Certification Form) and the FCC Form 471 (Description of Services Ordered and Certification Form) that their request for services will be based on a technology plan - if required by program rules - that has been or will be approved in accordance with the criteria and standards outlined in Technology Planning and Tech Plan Scope and Timeframe.

The technology plan must be written before the submission of the FCC Form 470 and FCC Form 471. Currently approved plans that cover at least part of the upcoming funding year and support the services that will be requested on the FCC Form 471 meet this requirement. Also, an applicant that purchases services from a state master contract and cites the associated state-filed FCC Form 470 on the funding request is not required to have a written technology plan before the state filed its FCC Form 470. The applicant must indicate the status of the technology plan in Block 5 of the Form 470 and Block 6 of the FCC Form 471.

The plan should document an educational purpose or need for library services that are consistent with the "Summary Description of Needs or Services Requested" in Block 2 of the FCC Form 470. The approved plan should support the "Certifications" in Block 5. The approved plan also should be consistent with similar information blocks in FCC Form 471 and should support the "Certifications" in FCC Forms 471 and 486. Applicants must retain documentation to demonstrate fulfillment of such requirements.

FCC Form 486

To indicate services have begun, the school or library must file FCC Form 486 (Receipt of Service Confirmation Form) and indicate on that form the name(s) of the organization(s) that approved a technology plan for any eligible recipient receiving services. The technology plan has to be approved by the start of service or the filing of the FCC Form 486, whichever comes first. The approving entity is required to provide the applicant with a Certification of Technology Plan Approval. This document must be retained in accordance with the FCC's document retention policy.