E-Rate Consulting

ADS assists eligible applicants (including public and non-profit K-12 schools as well as libraries) participate with E-rate by completely documenting the compliant completion of a competitive bidding process to select the most cost-effective Vendors to provide the services and/or equipment requested. The ADS work product is considered to be audit ready.

Once the competitive bidding process is complete ADS submits to USAC all information required to demonstrate compliance with the rules required for receiving E-rate support. After a Funding Commitment Decision Letter is issued ADS manages the reimbursement and reconciliation process. All documentation and information is managed within mye-binder. Many automated features assist the applicant in understanding, tracking and managing their E-rate initiatives.

ADS works directly with and corresponds directly with USAC and Vendors. Our processes are designed in a manner that allow Client designees to be informed at the same time the ADS Staff is informed of all E-rate correspondence. USAC is responsible for processing applications for support, confirming eligibility, and reimbursing service providers for discounted services and/or equipment delivered to eligible applicants. ADS is responsible for mitigating your risk and securing your disbursements. ADS does not provide Legal Advice or a Vendor Selection Services (although ADS does provide customized Vendor Selection Tools). The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), the administrator of the federal universal service support mechanism for schools and libraries (known as the E-Rate program), and the Rural Health Care program and Telecommunications (commonly called RHC) ,is responsible for ensuring that all program funding is disbursed in compliance with the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations and orders governing the programs. In addition, USAC has a fiduciary duty to protect the Universal Service Fund and the universal service support mechanisms (collectively, the USF) from waste, fraud, and abuse. ADS shares this responsibility and in order to avoid conflicts of interest, ADS does not have relationships with service providers. If you feel that program funds are being misapplied or know of potential program violations, please contact the USAC Whistleblower Hotline.