Conterra participates in the California Teleconnect Fund (CTF) program, a program administered by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) https://www.cpuc.ca.gov that provides additional discounts to qualified organizations to offset the costs of covered Internet Access and select intrastate telecommunications services provided by eligible telecommunications carriers including Conterra. This discount is 50% on Internet Access and select telecommunications services.* Only intrastate services are eligible for CTF support.
*A 25% discount is also available on voice services although Conterra does not offer such service in California.
The 50% discount is applied after any other discount such as the Federal E-Rate Program have been applied.
To qualify for CTF support a qualified organization must be located in California. Qualified organizations currently include California schools, libraries, government and district-owned and operated hospitals and health clinics, community-based organizations, and community colleges. One can find additional details about, and apply for, CTF support here: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/ctf/
Conterra Services Eligible for CTF Support
Conterra provides dedicated intrastate Ethernet and Dedicated Internet Access services in California using both fiber optic and microwave transmission technologies. These services are available on an Individual Case Basis (ICB) generally via a competitive procurement process. For more information on Conterra’s services see https://conterra.com/by-solutions/
Further Information regarding Eligibility
CPUC provides a detailed explanation of eligibility requirements here: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/General.aspx?id=4095
Generally, any school recognized as such by the state of California and defined as public or registered as not-for-profit is eligible. Schools and libraries may also qualify for support under the E-Rate program administered by the Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). Additional qualifications for participation in the E-Rate Program may be found here: https://www.usac.org/sl/default.aspx
Other CTF-eligible organizations include:
Libraries: Libraries that are eligible for participation in state-based funding under the Library Services and Technology Act (“LSTA”). Eligibility for libraries is defined in Act 20 USCA Sec. 9122 (2 and 3), but need not be certified under LSTA for purposes of CTF.
Municipal, County Government or Hospital District Owned and Operated Hospital and Health Clinic: All hospitals and health clinics owned and operated by county, municipal government or hospital districts. Entities participating in the California TeleHealth Network are eligible.
Community Based Organizations (CBOs): Tax exempt organizations offering health care, job training, job placement, educational instruction, or a non-profit CBO operating a community technology center engaged in diffusing technology into a local community, and training a local community that has limited or no access to the Internet and other technologies shall qualify for the discount rate for CBOs or a nonprofit CBO providing 2-1-1 information and referral services. A “tax exempt organization” shall refer to an organization described in Section 501 (c)(3) or 501 (d) of the Internal Revenue Code, Title 26 of the United States Code.
California Community Colleges: California community colleges and/or districts.
Note: services receiving support from CTF may not be resold or shared with an ineligible entity or individual.
SB1102 IMPACT ON PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES
Pursuant to Senate Bill (SB) 1102, CTF Service Providers are required to apply the statewide average E-rate percentage (as instructed in the Telecommunications Division’s Administrative Letter No. 10) before applying the CTF discount on eligible services, where applicable.
If you are a school or library and have not applied for E-rate, your CTF discounts may be impacted by SB1102. CTF service providers are required to apply the California statewide average E-rate percentage before calculating the CTF discount (this calculation only reduces the customer’s eligible dollar amount considered for CTF discounts; it does not provide the customer an E-rate discount) on eligible services for public and private K-12 schools and public libraries.
The statewide average E-rate percentage is updated in July of each year. The statewide average can vary, as a result of the annual update. Go to the CPUC website for yearly statewide average E-rate percentages.
If you are a CTF approved entity that is not eligible for E-rate discounts (hospitals, health clinics, Community Based Organizations or Community Colleges), you will not be affected by SB 1102.
If you are a public school that meets the definition of a necessary small school (see California Education Code) and your school or district is not eligible for E-rate, you will not be affected by SB 1102. You must complete the SB1102 Verification of Necessary Small School form (DOC) (Instructions) (DOC) and FAX to the applicable AT&T affiliate as shown on the form Instructions (DOC).
If you are a public or private school or public library, receive E-rate discounts, but subscribe to telecommunications services that are ineligible E-rate discounts, you will not be affected by SB 1102. You must complete the CTF Eligible/ E-rate Ineligible Services form (DOC) (Instructions) and FAX to the applicable AT&T affiliate as shown on the form Instructions (DOC).
If you are a public or private school or public library, receive E-rate discounts on all your telecommunications services eligible for CTF discounts, do not fill out the CTF Eligible/ E-rate Ineligible Services form above, as it is not applicable.
NOTE: CTF was established in 1996 by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and is solely funded by the California State Budget through an end-user surcharge on intrastate telecommunications services. CTF discounts are contingent on funds appropriated and available under the State Budget. Conterra and its family of companies are not responsible for providing discounts in the instance where funding is exhausted or the program is suspended by the CPUC.
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