E-Rate is a federal program that provides funding to help schools, libraries, and consortia obtain affordable broadband. E-Rate is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). USAC is responsible for processing applications, confirming eligibility, and reimbursing service providers for discounted services.
The IDI system has been enhanced to support configuration of approved E-Rate funding for products and services on an account, auto-generation of E-Rate credits on applicable invoices for those accounts, and the ability to create USAC reimbursement files. This helps service providers improve efficiency, accuracy, and visibility when servicing E-Rate eligible accounts.
Briefly, USAC assigns a unique Funding Request Number (FRN) when an application request for E-Rate funding has been approved. In the IDI system, E-Rate configuration and management are handled in the Product Catalog web module. There, authorized users can configure FRNs, view E-Rate utilization, manually log utilization when needed, and create an FCC reimbursement form 474 for submission to USAC.
Note
Submitting this file is a manual process done outside the IDI system.
Support for E-Rate in the IDI system provides the ability to:
Configure E-Rate funding in the Product Catalog web module. This includes the ability to associate products and services to a Funding Request Number (FRN).
Apply E-Rate funding during billing:
Automatically generate E-Rate credits based on FRN configuration.
Automatically track and log E-Rate utilization.
View E-Rate Utilization.
Note
Generate the USAC reimbursement (474) file for finalized bill periods. Submitting this form is done manually outside the IDI system
Use Customer Care to view E-Rate information on an account and on invoices.
Manually log utilization for an FRN if product/service associations were not configured prior to billing, or when any manual corrections are needed.
Configure workflow automation when E-Rate utilization is manually logged (via the E-Rate Utilization Manually Created trigger).
Account for E-Rate funding in Invoice XML and General Ledger reports.
Access to admin-level E-Rate functions is protected by the Manage E-Rate permission on the Product Catalog Admin role in the Security web module. Users assigned the Product Catalog User role with Allow Log On permission can search and view FRNs. See Permissions.
Permissions
Access to admin-level E-Rate functions is protected by a new Manage E-Rate permission on the Product Catalog Admin role in the Security web module. Users assigned this role can:
Create and edit FRNs
Search and view FRNs
Log usage against FRNs
Create the 474 file for reimbursment
Users assigned the Product Catalog User role with Allow Log On permission can search and view FRNs.
For complete details refer to the article on Managing E-Rate in the IDI Knowledge Center.
Where to Start in the Product Catalog Web Module
The MANAGE > E-Rate menu option in the Product Catalog provides access to functions for creating, managing and viewing FRNs in the IDI system.
This displays the E-Rate Funding page which is the starting point for all E-Rate functionality. Initially the E-Rate Funding page displays all current FRNs (whose end dates have not passed). For each FRN this view displays:
FRN – The link in each row lets you view details for the associated FRN
Application Number - Application submitted to USAC for funding
SPIN – Service Provider Identification Number
Start & End Dates
Percentage (discount)
Approved Amount
Remaining Amount – Approved amount minus total of eligible charges for usage logged against the FRN.
If the number of FRNs exceeds the limit, you can page through more FRNs using the < > buttons. You can also adjust the number of items per page via the associated drop-down menu.
From the E-Rate Funding page you can search for specific FRNs, create a new FRN, view FRN details, and view utilization.
For details on Managing E-Rate see: