Urgent Reminder! Obtain SPINs to Ensure Timely Processing of Your 471

The Schools and Libraries Corporation reminds all Universal Service Fund applicants that the Service Provider Identification Number? SPIN *is a vital component of your E-rate application. Although failure to provide a service provider's SPIN on your Form 471 won't result in automatic rejection, it will slow review of your application by requiring contact with you from our Problem Resolution Team. Here's a roundup reminder of what you and your service providers need to know about SPINs.

What is the SPIN and why is it important? The SPIN is a number that identifies the service provider from which you are purchasing services and/or products, and allows that service provider to be paid from the Universal Service Fund. The SPIN is needed on Form 471 and will also play an important role in Form 486 and invoicing.

Who is responsible for getting a SPIN? It is the service provider's responsibility to get its SPIN AND your responsibility to record that SPIN on your Form 471 in Items 15/16, Column 1.

How does a service provider obtain a SPIN? Any service provider can get a SPIN by calling the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) toll-free at 888-641-8722. The SPIN will be assigned over the phone. For more details, see *What Service Providers Need to Know About Obtaining a SPIN, * below. Feel free to copy this information and forward it to the service providers you work with.

What happens if I send in my Form 471 without a SPIN for every service provider listed? If your filed Form 471 is missing one or more SPINs, you will be contacted by our Problem Resolution Team by fax (or phone or email, if you have not listed a contact fax number). You will want to make every effort NOW to obtain your service providers SPINs so you can respond quickly to the Problem Resolution Team request.

Can SLC help me get a service provider's SPIN? If a service provider has already obtained a SPIN, our toll-free help line (888-203-8100) can provide you with the appropriate contact name and phone number at the service provider's office. We cannot give you the service provider's actual SPIN, however. That information must be provided by the service provider to you.

What Service Providers Should Know About Obtaining A SPIN The schools and libraries who purchase your services need your Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) for their Universal Service Fund (*E-rate*) applications, and YOU need a SPIN to receive any payments from the Universal Service Fund. Any service provider can obtain a SPIN by calling the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) toll-free at 888-641-8722. For fax, use 888-637-6226. In requesting a SPIN, please be prepared to provide basic information about your company (such as complete address and phone number). In addition, please provide a contact name to the SLC Client Service Bureau via an email message (questions@slcfund.org) so that the Client Service Bureau can refer customers with SPIN assignment questions to the right person within your company.

Following the assignment of your SPIN over the phone, USAC will send you a SPIN registration form requesting more detailed information about your company. By completing and returning this form, you will complete the required SPIN registration process.

For more information about the SPIN and the Universal Service Program in general, see the Schools and Libraries Corporation Web Site <http://www.slcfund.org> and click on the Service Provider Area.

Update! New SLC E-Mail Address for Service Providers

SLC has established a new e-mail address specifically for vendors. It is <serviceprovider@slcfund.org>. Service providers can use this address to get answers to their specific issues. All interested parties may continue to use the <questions@slcfund.org> address or the toll-free help line number, 888-203-8100.