What is E-Rate?
Who is eligible for E-Rate funding?
What products and services are eligible for discount?
How do I apply for E-Rate funding?
What are Qwest's Service Provider ID Numbers (SPINs)?
Where can I go to learn more?
Looking for funding updates?
For Qwest E-Rate Questions, call: (800) 510-2148
or email erate@qwest.com
What is E-Rate?
Click here to download our latest brochure (PDF).
Who is eligible for E-Rate funding?
- Public schools, elementary and secondary
- Non-profit elementary and secondary Parochial and Private schools
- Public libraries
- Many private non-profit libraries accessible to the public
What products and services are eligible for discounts?
The SLD maintains a comprehensive list of eligible products and services. We recommend that you consult this list to determine whether or not an individual service is eligible for the E-Rate discount. If you have any questions about whether a product is eligible, you should contact the SLD to obtain a ruling. Be sure to document the response from the SLD.
How do I apply for E-Rate funding?
Before applying for discounted services, you must prepare a Technology Plan, unless you are requesting support only for simple (POTS) voice telephone services. Technology plans should specify how you plan to integrate the use of these technologies into your curriculum. The plans must receive independent approval, such as by a state agency that oversees schools or libraries, or by the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD).
- Customer fills out and submits FCC Form 470.
- Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) posts 470 Request for Proposal (RFP) summary on the SLD Web site for 28 days (except for existing services under qualified contract).
- Vendors check SLD Web site for summary postings and submit bids on requested services and, if applicable, RFP requirements. Customer may sign a contract on "Contract Allowable Date".
- Customer submits FCC Form 471 to advise SLD of selection of vendor(s), products/services ordering information and costs, and to request commitment of Federal Universal Service Fund support.
- SLD reviews Form 471, contacts customer to resolve questions. (Problem Resolution/Program Integrity Review.)
- SLD informs customer and vendor of funding approval and sets funding limit. (Funding Commitment Decision Letter.)
- Customer submits FCC Form 486 within 10 business days after services have been received. This notifies the SLD to begin the funding process.
Customer may select monthly discounting or BEAR (Form 472-Billed Entity Applicant Reimbursement). Please contact the Qwest E-Rate Group at 1-800-510-2148 with your selection.
- Customer receives discounts on bills.
What are the Qwest Service Provider ID Numbers (SPINs)?
All service providers who wish to participate in the Universal Service Fund for schools and libraries must have a SPIN. The purpose of the SPIN is to expedite future payments to vendors providing discounted services to schools and libraries under the Universal Service Fund.
Schools and libraries preparing to file Form 471 are to use these SPINs for all vendors they list in Block 5, Item 14. These SPINs will be used on subsequent forms.
Eligible Telecommunications Services
Eligible Internal Connections
Eligible Internet Connections
Where can I go to learn more?
Looking for funding updates?
For the most current E-Rate information, visit the SLD Web site.
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