Are you wondering how to find the best E-Rate consultants to assist your school or library in understanding and applying for an E-Rate grant? The E-Rate program could be a valuable source of funding for telecommunications and information services. However, the application process can seem so daunting that you may not want to attempt it. Like other regulatory-intensive programs such as Medicare, E-Rate applicants have benefited from the services of a consultant for completing the application, rate reviews, record keeping, appeals, etc. If you are looking for a reliable and trustworthy information services provider, contact Digital Service Consultants today.

 

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What Is E-Rate?

E-Rate is a program of the Universal Service Fund and is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). For many years, the E-Rate program has been a valuable source of funding for telecommunications and information services for both schools and libraries alike. Under the program, eligible schools and libraries can receive discounts on the price of the services that are provided to them by telecommunications and information services providers. The savings can be anywhere from 20% to 90% off the regular price of these vital services.

To learn more about this great program, check out our blog post “E-Rate Grant for Schools & Libraries.”

 

 

What Types of Services are Covered by E-Rate?

Eligible schools and libraries can receive discounts on services including:

• Telecommunications services
• Internet access
• Internal connections
• Managed internal broadband services
• Basic maintenance of internal connections

For a complete list of eligible services, click here.

 

 

What is an E-Rate Consultant?

An E-Rate consultant can play an important part in assisting schools and libraries to better understand how the E-Rate program operates, how to fully comply with the program’s rules, and how to best benefit “appropriately and sensibly from this unique and valuable source of funding.”  An E-Rate consultant fully understands the E-Rate process and the rules governing it. They also know the eligibility of services and school buildings.

Why Do You Need an E-Rate Consultant?

There are several good reasons to enlist the services of an E-Rate consultant. These include:

• The program has a large number of complex regulations that need to be understood and precisely followed in order to qualify.
• It takes a significant amount of time to manage the E-Rate application process from start to finish; you may not have the time or staff that is needed to complete the process.
• There are substantial penalties for non-compliance if you are selected for a compliance audit; you need to understand what you are doing and make sure that you are following all of the guidelines in order to make sure you are not at risk.

 

 

What Does an E-Rate Consultant Do?

An E-Rate consultant will perform the following:

• They will work with the school district personnel to figure out their funding requirements.
• They will file the necessary E-Rate forms in a timely manner to meet the application deadlines.
• Once the service has been provided, they will follow up with the school or library to make sure that the school or library has received the amount of reimbursement that they were promised.
• They can assist you in an appeal process if you wish to pursue one.

 

 

How to Find the Best E-Rate Consultants

Not all consultants are the same. Here are some valuable tips that will help you select the best E-Rate consultant to assist your school or library.

Look at Online Reviews

Checking out an E-Rate consultant’s online reviews is a good way to find out whether or not they are reliable. The best E-Rate consultants will have excellent reviews from trustworthy online sources such as the Better Business Bureau.

Ask for References

Ask the consultant that you are considering using for at least 3 recent references and then take the time to actually contact those references.

Compare Services and Pricing Options

Don’t just choose the first consultant that you come across. Take a look at several options and compare the services that they offer and the prices that they are charging to get the best value for your money.

Make Sure You Get in Writing What They are Promising to Do For You

It is always a good idea to get in writing a list of all the services that you have been promised so that you have something to fall back on if a service is not provided.

 

 

For the Best Information Services – Choose Digital Services Consultants

Digital Services Consultants offers you the best information services possible. We provide a full range of internet- related services including cloud backup, system monitoring, software hosting, dedicated email, website development and implementation, web hosting, e-commerce, security, and a variety of related products and services. We also provide network support for Linus, Microsoft server and workstation platforms, Fortinet firewalls, and Cisco Systems. DSC has been a trusted name in the IT industry in Atlanta for more than 30 years. Contact us today for all of your internet-related requirements.

 

 

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DSC Gives Back to the Georgia Community

DSC is proud to be part of a thriving Georgia Community and we care enough about our community to want to give something back. That is why we started the “Next Generation” training days. During the training, our students learned about the history of CPUs and GPUs. The training focused on the performance and success of different models and brands and which ones excelled during their various time periods. You can access an audio recording of the training on the DSC website for free. Click here to listen to this informative podcast.