Glossary of Terms
Use this E-Rate Glossary to find commonly-used program terms and definitions. Click the ‘Terms’ column heading to sort the table alphabetically or use the search bar to filter results.
Download the full E-Rate Glossary of Terms or view the comprehensive USAC Glossary.
Looking for E-Rate's specific Eligible Services Glossary? Visit our Eligible Services List page.
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Terms
|
Program |
Definitions |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible Services | E-Rate, Rural Health Care, High Cost, Service Providers |
Equipment and services that are eligible for universal service support. In the E-Rate program, eligible services include data transmission services and/or internet access, internal connections, the maintenance of internal connections, and managed internal broadband services. In the High Cost program, eligible services include the costs of deploying rural voice service (legacy funds) or rural broadband service (modernized funds). In the RHC program, eligible services include broadband connectivity and telecommunications services. |
| Eligible Services List (ESL) | E-Rate |
An FCC-released annual list of the equipment and services eligible for reimbursement through E-Rate. Visit the program’s Eligible Services List page to see current- and past-year ESLs. |
| Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) | E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers |
A designation given to telecommunications service providers by their state public utility commissions or the FCC, enabling them to participate in universal service programs. |
| Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program | USAC General, E-Rate |
An FCC initiative that helped eligible schools and libraries cover the costs of internet equipment and services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Introduced in 2021, the $7.171 billion program offered financial support for the purchase of laptops and tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and broadband connections to serve unmet needs for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons. The ECF’s sunset date was June 30, 2024. |
| Evaluation | E-Rate |
A mechanism for assessing and choosing a service provider from incoming bids. Note that the price of the eligible products and services must be included as a factor in the evaluation and that factor must be weighted more heavily than any other single factor. |
| Every Student Succeeds Act | E-Rate |
The 2015 law, 20 U.S.C. Section §7801, that provides the statutory definitions of elementary and secondary schools. |
| FCC Form 470 | E-Rate |
An FCC form that schools and libraries complete to establish their eligibility for E-Rate support and formally request bids for E-Rate equipment and services from service providers. The certification of FCC Form 470 in EPC initiates the competitive bidding process. The form must then be posted to USAC’s website for a minimum of 28 days before the applicant can select a service provider. |
| FCC Form 471 | E-Rate |
An FCC form that schools and libraries use annually to report services ordered and request discounts for those services. Visit the E-Rate program’s FCC Form 471 Filing page for additional information. |
| FCC Form 471 Application Filing Window | E-Rate |
The period, generally between mid-January and mid-March prior to the start of the funding year, when applicants request E-Rate program support. See also FCC Form 471. |
| FCC Form 472 (Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) Form) | E-Rate |
An FCC form that E-Rate program applicants submit to USAC after paying for services in full to request reimbursement for the discount on those services. Applicants may visit E-Rate’s applicant invoicing page for additional details about the BEAR invoicing method. |
| FCC Form 473 (Service Provider Annual Certification (SPAC) Form) | E-Rate |
An FCC form that service providers file annually to certify their compliance with E-Rate program rules and guidelines. The form must be filed before USAC will pay invoices. |
| FCC Form 474 (Service Provider Invoice (SPI) Form) | E-Rate |
An FCC form that service providers submit to USAC to request reimbursement for discounted eligible services provided to E-Rate program applicants. Service providers may visit E-Rate’s service provider invoicing page for additional details about the SPI invoicing method. |
| FCC Form 479 (Certification by Administrative Authority to Billed Entity of Compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act Form) | E-Rate |
An FCC form that E-Rate consortium members (the administrative authority for CIPA purposes) submit annually to their consortium leader to certify that they are in compliance with CIPA. After all FCC Forms 479 are collected, the consortium leader can complete the FCC Form 486. See also Children’s Internet Protection Act. |
| FCC Form 486 (Receipt of Service Confirmation and Children’s Internet Protection Act Certification Form) | E-Rate |
An FCC form that E-Rate program applicants file to inform USAC that services have begun and confirm their compliance with CIPA. It must be completed prior to filing a BEAR Form (FCC Form 472) or SPI Form (FCC Form 474) to request reimbursement. See also Children’s Internet Protection Act. |
| FCC Form 486 Notification Letter | E-Rate |
A letter USAC issues to E-Rate program applicants and service providers to indicate that an FCC Form 486 has been successfully processed and invoicing may begin. |
| FCC Form 498 | E-Rate, Rural Health Care, High Cost, Service Providers |
The FCC form that telecommunications service providers must submit to participate in any of the universal service programs. The form collects contact, remittance, and payment information. Upon completion, the service provider is assigned a nine-digit unique identifier referred to as a 498 ID/Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN). Note: Applicants to the E-Rate program who choose the FCC Form 472 (Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement (BEAR) Form) payment method must also have filed the FCC Form 498. |
| FCC Form 498 Company Officer | E-Rate, Rural Health Care, High Cost, Service Providers |
See 498 Company Officer. |
| FCC Form 498 Delegated Users | E-Rate, Rural Health Care, High Cost, Service Providers |
See Authorized Users. |
| FCC Form 498 General Contact | E-Rate, Rural Health Care, High Cost, Service Providers |
See General Contact. |
| FCC Form 500 (Funding Commitment Adjustment Request Form) | E-Rate |
An FCC form that E-Rate program applicants file to submit changes to funding requests after USAC has issued commitments for those requests, including: adjusting the funding year service start date, adjusting the contract expiration date, cancelling an FRN, reducing an FRN, or requesting a service delivery extension. |
| FCC Registration Number (FCC RN) | E-Rate, Rural Health Care, High Cost, Service Providers |
A 10-digit number assigned by the FCC to a business or individual that registers with the commission. It is associated with an entity’s Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and is required before filing FCC Forms 499-A/Q. Originally called CORES ID. |
| Federal Communications Commission (FCC) | E-Rate, Rural Health Care, Lifeline, High Cost, Service Providers |
An independent agency of the U.S. government established in 1934. The FCC is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all U.S. states and territories. In 1997, the FCC designated USAC to be the independent not-for-profit corporation to administer the universal service fund, in accordance with its rules. The Commission oversees USAC’s administration of the USF. |
| FSCS Codes | E-Rate |
An identifying code for public libraries issued by the Federal State Cooperative System (FSCS), a cooperative program between the federal government and the states. FSCS data on public libraries is received from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). |
| Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) | E-Rate |
A letter sent to E-Rate program applicants and service providers that details USAC’s funding decisions. FCDLs are issued in EPC after USAC completes its PIA review. See also Program Integrity Assurance. |
| Funding Request Number (FRN) | E-Rate, Rural Health Care |
A unique identifier that USAC assigns to funding requests in completed FCC Form 462 (RHC program), FCC Form 466 (RHC program), and FCC Form 471 (E-Rate program) applications. |
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