• PY2 funding update
• Timing of new forms for PY3
• NYS E-rate workshop reminder

The following is a summary of the E-rate news for the week of October 18, 1999, prepared by E-Rate Central. Official SLD news appears in the “What’s New!” section of the SLD’s web site. Additional information and interpretations appear elsewhere on this Web site.

PY2 funding update

Wave 16 of Funding Commitment Decisions (“FCD”) Letters for program year two (“PY2”) is on schedule to be mailed this Friday. The wave will be comprised of approximately 1,200 letters for $118 million. New York’s share of Wave 16 will be 89 letters for $5.8 million.

The SLD has indicated that all PY2 applications received by the end of the window (April 6, 1999) have now been data entered. Applicants who have heard nothing (i.e., no Receipt Acknowledgment Letters, no postcards, or no phone calls) indicating that their applications at least had been received (even if not yet funded) should call the SLD’s help line (888-203-8100).

Timing of new forms for PY3

The new Form 470s and Form 471s, new instructions, and the online filing capabilities, are expected to be ready imminently.

The SLD had earlier indicated that it hoped to be ready to begin receiving new Form 470s on-line by Wednesday, October 20, but this date was slipped – hopefully only until next week. The slippage may also impact the Form 471 filing window scheduled to open in early November and run through mid-January. Do not be surprised to see the anticipated 471 window slip by at least half a month.

NYS E-rate workshop reminder

The schedule for five half-day NYS E-rate workshops, sponsored by the New York State Education Department and listed below, has now been posted on the E-Rate Central web site with registration information and location maps.

The workshops have been designed to address the needs of both new and experienced participants in the E-rate program. The presentations will address the entire application process with special emphasis on the new forms, procedures and contract requirements for the 2000-2001 program year.

School and library workshops:

New York City area – 9-12 a.m., Monday, October 25, in the NYS Public Service Commission Boardroom, 8^th Floor, One Penn Plaza, New York, NY.

Upstate New York area – 2-5 p.m., Tuesday, October 26, in the NYS Museum Theatre, 3090 Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY.

Western Upstate New York – 1-4 p.m., Friday, October 29, at Erie 1 BOCES, 355 Harlem Road, West Seneca, NY.

New York City area – 9-12 a.m., Monday, November 1, in the NYS Public Service Commission Boardroom, 8^th Floor, One Penn Plaza, New York, NY.

New York City area – 9-12 a.m., Thursday, December 2, in the NYS Public Service Commission Boardroom, 8^th Floor, One Penn Plaza, New York, NY.