We encourage all of our applicants (schools and libraries) and service providers (vendors) to learn as much about E-Rate as possible. Each year, we provide on site seminars in July for applicants and August for service providers to update you on recent changes in the E-Rate program, inform you about hot buttons we have noticed by working with application reviewers, auditors, and site visit evaluators, and to prepare you for the next E-Rate cycle.

The seminars are archived in streaming media which you can view from your computer workstation. You will need RealPlayer and Internet access to view the recorded sessions. See: E-Rate Web Casts August, 2006

The handouts from the seminars are available on our website.

• Applicant (Schools & Libraries) Handouts
• Service Provider (Vendor) Handouts

Additional training sources are available from the Schools & Libraries Division of USAC. For information on their annual training sessions, see: SLD Outreach and Training

If you are new to E-Rate, we highly encourage you to read through our "E-Rate Basics" booklet which explains E-Rate in laymans's terms. It also includes definitions, the E-Rate discount matrix, and information on recent rule changes. E-Rate Basics (Updated July, 2006)

If you are interested in bidding on our E-Rate RFPs, be sure to register on our online bidding site: http://www.erate470.com/ and read the instructions.
We have a step-by-step bidding guide that you also need to review.