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WV Specific

E-rate Technology Plans

Technology Plan – The technology plan documents the library service strategy or the school improvement purpose of requested telecommunications services or Internet access under the Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries. Technology planning must not be treated as a separate exercise dealing primarily with networks and telecommunication infrastructure. Approved technology plans must establish the connections between the information technology and the professional development strategies, curriculum initiatives, and library objectives that will lead to improved education and library services. A technology plan must be completed at the time the FCC Form 470 is filed and must be approved before the start of service or the filing of the FCC Form 486, whichever is earlier. Applicants are required to formally certify on the FCC Form 486 that the technology plans on which they based their purchases were approved before they began to receive service. (USAC/SLD Reference Area: Frequently Asked Questions about Technology Planning)

A technology (tech) plan outlines an applicant’s goals in the use of technology services. Tech plans must be approved by a USAC-certified Technology Plan Approver prior to the start of discounted services or submission of the Form 486, whichever is earlier. A plan is required for any service other than basic telephone services. (USAC/SLD Web Site: Acronyms and Terms List)

Technology Plan Approval Date - The technology plan approval date is the date that a USAC-certified Technology Plan Approver officially gave approval to the plan (This is different from the tech plan creation date). (USAC/SLD Web Site: Acronyms and Terms List)

Technology Plan Approval Letter - The technology plan approval letter is issued by a USAC-certified Technology Plan Approver to verify the approval status of an applicant’s tech plan. (USAC/SLD Web Site: Acronyms and Terms List)

Technology Plan Approver Locator – The Technology Plan Approver Locator is a tool designed to match up applicants with USAC-certified Technology Plan Approvers. Applicants who are seeking support for services other than basic local and/or long distance telephone service (wireline or wireless) must prepare technology plans and have those plans approved by a USAC-certified Technology Plan Approver. (USAC/SLD Reference Area: Certified Technology Plan Approver Locator)

Technology Plan Creation Date - The tech plan creation date is the date that a tech plan was first written or prepared. (It is not the date that the final version of the plan was approved.) (USAC/SLD Web Site: Acronyms and Terms List)

Five Criteria in Technology Plan:

  • Goals: The plan must establish clear goals and a realistic strategy for using telecommunications and information technology to improve education or library services.

  • Professional Development: The plan must have a professional development strategy to ensure that staff know how to use these new technologies to improve education or library services.

  • Needs Assessment: The plan must include an assessment of the telecommunication services, hardware, software, and other services that will be needed to improve education or library services.

  • Budget: The plan must provide for a sufficient budget to acquire and support the non-discounted elements of the plan: the hardware, software, professional development, and other services that will be needed to implement the strategy.

  • Evaluation: The plan must include an evaluation process that enables the school or library to monitor progress toward the specified goals and make mid-course corrections in response to new developments and opportunities as they arise.

Technology plans must cover the full 12 months of the funding year.

The FCC Form 470 developed from an applicant's technology plan should mirror the level of complexity of the services and products for which discounts are being sought. (Ysleta Order, paragraph 29)

USAC/SLD PowerPoints and Documents:

Additional West Virginia Documents:

Additional Related References: