• Applicants
  • Step 1: Determine Eligibility
  • Step 2: Develop a Technology Plan
  • Step 3: Open a Competitive Bidding Process
  • Step 4: Select a Service Provider
  • Step 5: Calculate the Discount Level
  • Step 6: Determine Your Eligible Services
  • Step 7: Submit Your Application for Program Support
  • Step 8: Undergo Application Review
  • Step 9: Receive Your Funding Decision
  • Step 10: Begin Receipt of Services
  • Step 11: Invoice USAC
• Service Providers
  • Step 1: Obtain a Service Provider Identification Number
  • Step 2: Search Applicant Requests for Service
  • Step 3: Respond to Applicant Requests
  • Step 4: Applicants Select Service Provider
  • Step 5: Assist Applicants with Application Review
  • Step 6: Receive Funding Commitment Decision Letter
  • Step 7: Begin Providing Services
  • Step 8: File Annual Certification
  • Step 9: Invoice USAC

About the Schools and Libraries Program:

• Overview of the Program
• Overview of the Process
• Outreach and Training
• HATS Outreach
• Filing Appeals
• Understanding Audits

Schools and Libraries Tools:

• Apply Online
• Commitments
• Submit a Question
• Latest News
• Calendar/Reminders
• Required Forms
• Reference Area
• Search Tools
• Changes and Corrections
• Suspensions and Debarments
• Contact Us

HATS Process

During HATS visits, USAC provides outreach to schools and libraries that have faced repeated obstacles in receiving E-rate support, including but not limited to Selective Reviews and funding denials. The HATS Specialists – the USAC staff member conducting the HATS visit – will customize the outreach provided during your visit by reviewing your history with the E-rate program to determine the program areas where outreach would be most helpful.

To effectively accomplish the goals of the HATS Outreach Initiative, the HATS Specialists will discuss your experiences with the School and Libraries program to gain an understanding of your history with the program from your point of view. The HATS Specialists will cover in detail the particular issue or issues that led to the funding obstacle that USAC already identified in order to help prevent future problems. Throughout the discussion, the HATS Specialists will highlight common errors and misconceptions that arise during the process, share recent program changes and new regulations, and reveal new tools available to applicants. The HATS Specialists will also review successful application practices and ways to avoid application pitfalls.

At the conclusion of the visit, the HATS Specialists will discuss your questions as well as the concerns and challenges you face when applying for E-rate funding. The feedback collected through the HATS Outreach Initiative will assist USAC in improving the Schools and Libraries program, its processes and training and outreach designed to help applicants receive funding. Throughout the course of the conversation, the HATS Specialists will seek to collect responses to the following questions:

1. How can USAC help you?
2. How can USAC improve the application process?
3. How can USAC improve its training materials?
4. How can USAC better communicate information to you and other applicants?
5. What suggestions do you have for improving the program?

After the outreach session, applicants will have the opportunity to comment on the value derived from the exchange by sending comments and suggestions to USAC.

HATS outreach can be delivered in various methods depending on your needs. We offer a full program overview for new applicants, a refresher course with a focus on targeted areas for applicants with some experience, and problem-solving sessions devoted to a specific area of the application process. We can conduct HATS visits by telephone, video conferencing and in-person visits at the location of your choice.