Page 76 - E-Rate 2020-21 Workbook

KSLLC – RFP QUESTIONNAIRE – HELP TEXT

115. S15. Data Connection Question

Please answer yes or no as to whether or not you will consider bids for leased dark fiber.

Leased Dark Fiber including Indefeasible Rights of Use (IRU): The E-rate applicant
leases capacity (i.e. a specific number of fiber strands) on a provider-owned and
maintained fiber network. The applicant pays separately for modulating equipment to
light the fiber in order to transmit data over that fiber. The maintenance and operations
(M&O) charges related to leased dark fiber service can be the responsibility of the service
provider or the applicant dependent on the terms of the contractual agreement.

Explain in the notes section if you already have the equipment necessary to light the fiber
OR if you are going to request E-rate funding for the modulating equipment. Provide any
further details you would like to provide in the notes section. You may request Erate
support for the equipment necessary to light the fiber (modulating equipment). You may
also request E-rate support for maintenance and operations. Please note that Modulating
equipment and Maintenance and Operations directly related to the dark fiber lease are
Category One services and are not subject to the category two budget.

E-rate discounts are only available for leased dark fiber if it is the most cost effective
solution with price as the primary factor. Therefore, you must compare the cost of leased
lit fiber to leased dark fiber. Be sure to request bids for both leased lit fiber and leased
dark fiber so you can make the proper comparison in your bid evaulation. If dark fiber
lease is awarded, the applicant must light the fiber no later than June 30 of the Erate
program year. Additionally, if the awarded bid includes special construction costs and
you will not be able to light the fiber by June 30, you can request an extension for special
construction charges ONLY if the request is made prior to June 30 of the program year.

For further details, see: USAC Fiber Summary Overview

116. S16. Data Connection Question

Please answer yes or no as to whether or not you will consider bids for self provisioned
data connections where the school or library will own the data connection (e.g. fiber
between buildings or indefeasible right of use "IRU"). If so, please also explain in the
notes section if you already have the equipment necessary to light the fiber OR if you are
going to request E-rate funding for the modulating equipment. Provide any further
details you would like to provide in the notes section. You may request Erate support for
the equipment necessary to light the fiber (modulating equipment). Please note that
Modulating equipment is Category One service and is not subject to the category two
budget.

E-rate discounts are only available for self-provisioned networks if it is the most cost
effective solution with price as the primary factor. Therefore, you must compare the cost
of leased lit fiber to the self-provisioned solution. Be sure to request bids for both leased
lit fiber and self-provisioned solutions so you can make the proper comparison in your

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RFP QUESTIONNAIRE HELP TEXT - PAGE 3