FCC Form 470 "Description of Services Requested and Certification Form" The first form that must be filed by a school or library in the E-rate application process. Its primary purpose is to briefly describe the applicant, provide a point of contact, and indicate any new telecommunications and technology services that the applicant will be seeking. Much of the information requested is designed to be useful to, and to be made available to, potential vendors.

The important aspect of submitting a Form 470 is that it be filed well before actual contracts, upon which E-rate discounts will be requested, are signed.

Specific discount requests will be made on a second form, FCC Form 471, which should be filed before the end of the application window period for the next funding year. The Form 471 application window for FY 2005 year will close February 18, 2005 (see the SLD's announcement on the extension of the filing window for FY 2005). Timing is important because, before new contracts can be signed, the initial Form 470 must be received by the SLD and posted on its Web site for at least 28 days.

The rules for determining the eligibility of existing and new contracts for E-rate purposes are quite precise and must be carefully followed.

A more complete discussion of these rules and the implications for applicant purchasing procedures is provided under Contract Timing Issues.

Detailed instructions for completing a Form 470, either online or by mail, can be found:

• In the Forms Rack section of this Web site.
• In the SLD Forms section of the SLD Web site.

Interactive versions of Form 470 (and other E-rate forms) are available in the Forms Rack section of this Web site. These versions can be used online or can be downloaded for subsequent use.