E-rate BEAR Form

Lauren AbnerKentucky Department for Libraries and Archives

E-rate cycle

Form 470

Form 471

Form 486

BEARor SPI

Top 6 BEAR Tips

1. The form can’t be filed until bills have been paid. 2. It can be filed as frequently (annually, quarterly, etc.) as you like. 3. File one form for each service provider. 4. Deadlines apply to you and the service provider. 5. Final deadline for FY2015 is October 28, 2016. 6. You can request 1 filing extension of 120 days: http://www.usac.org/sl/applicants/step07/invoice-extensions.aspx

Have this information ready:

• The Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) from 2015 will provide:• The library’s billed entity number, or BEN.• The service provider’s SPIN, or service provider ID number.• The 471 form number.• The funding request number (FRN).

• Your PIN – the equivalent of a signature, this is specific to one person.

• The total amount spent on each bill during the E-rate funding year (7/1/2015– 6/30/2016).

Before You Begin

http://www.sl.universalservice.org

Questions about your PIN? Call 888-203-8100 or use the online Submit a Question form.

If you can’t locate your PIN and the deadline is approaching, file a paper BEAR form. Instructions for filing on paper follow the instructions for filing online.

Sample form

File one form for each service provider.

This will fill out automatically once the SPIN is entered.

This is for your records, and it can be left blank.

Lauren Abner

lauren.abner@ky.gov

Applicant Form Identifier

1728

Sample form

Enter a date in blank #10 for recurring services (like phone or Internet), #11 for one-time services (equipment. Use only one of these for each FRN. Most services start on the first day of the funding year.

Compare your monthly bills with the original funding request to help determine this amount. Don’t use commas or a $.

The amount billed to the USAC (#14) is calculated from the amount entered in #12 and the discount % (which will already be filled in).

07/01/2015540611 1497956 16559 11591.370

Add additional FRNs using this button. To be included on this BEAR form, they must be from the same service provider.

Sample form

Check all of these.

Sample form

This box must be checked.

This will complete the library’s portion of this form.

Enter the library’s name.

KY Department for Libr

Next step

The BEAR is not complete until it is certified (online) or signed (on paper) by your service provider.

http://www.sl.universalservice.org

Checking the status of your BEAR

Checking the status of your BEAR

Incomplete invoices will be displayed on the BEAR Home page.

These sample BEARs are incomplete, awaiting service provider certification.

http://www.usac.org/sl

Alternative to online form : filing on paper

Select forms, and choose Form 472 (or BEAR) on the next screen.

Filing on paper

Make sure the form is dated July 2013! Old forms will be rejected.Use Internet Explorer or Firefox as your browser.

Contacting your Service Provider

The paper BEAR form is not complete without your service provider’s signature. First, use the SPIN search tool to locate the contact person for your service provider.

SPIN search

Enter the SPIN listed on your funding commitment letter. This is much easier than figuring out your service provider’s full legal name.

SPIN search

Call the contact number listed to find out where to fax your BEAR form for a signature. Once they’ve signed it and faxed it back, mail it to:

SLD BEAR FCC Form 472P.O. Box 7026

Lawrence, KS 66044-7026

It must be postmarked by October 28, 2016!

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Lauren AbnerTechnology ConsultantKentucky Department for Libraries & Archiveslauren.abner@ky.gov502-564-1728