A Schools and Libraries Division spokesman said Thursday that starting with its next funding wave, the SLD will begin approving eligible requests for internal connections support from applicants eligible for a 90 percent discount rate. He added that the SLD had determined it would be able to provide full funding for applicants approved at that level.
The SLD spokesman indicated that the SLD had not yet determined where the final threshold for approved internal connections would fall. So far, the SLD has committed about $800 million worth of support for telecommunications services and Internet access. The next wave could be expected to be announced on Friday, October 4, with letters going out to applicants, and information posted publicly on the SLD Website, a few days later. Based on past years’ experience, it is likely that not all outstanding requests will be resolved in a single wave.
The SLD also announced that the filing window for Form 471 applications for the 2003 funding year will open on Monday November 4, 2002 and close at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday January 16, 2003. As a result, Form 470 applications must be posted on the SLD Website by December 19, 2002, to provide the full, 28-day posting period before the last day for filing Form 471 applications within the filing window.
The SLD also said that the Form 471 application form would be revised this year, and made available to applicants when the filing window opens. The SLD is encouraging applicants to file their applications online, and also to separate their internal connections requests from their requests for telecommunications services and Internet access to speed the application review process.
