The California Teleconnect Fund (CTF) provides qualified organizations a 50% discount on Internet access and select telecommunications services offered by Consolidated Communications in California. (Actual discounts for schools and libraries may vary based on application of federal E-rate discounts).
Qualified organizations include California schools, libraries, government and district-owned and operated hospitals and health clinics, community based organizations, and community colleges. More details on criteria for qualification and discount calculations are detailed on the CPUC website.
Eligibility Criteria
CTF customers must qualify under one of the following categories:
Schools & School Districts
- Public or nonprofit private schools
- Located in California
- Providing elementary or secondary education (K - 12)
- Annual endowments under $50 million
- Must have active County District School Code Number
Libraries
- Located in California
- Eligible to participate in state-based plans for funds under Title III of the Library Services and Technology Act
Government Owned and Operated Hospitals & Health Clinics
- Located in California
- Owned and operated by a municipal, county government, or a hospital district
- Some that do not meet the above “owned and operated” requirement may qualify as a Community Based Organization (see below)
Community Based Organizations (CBOs)
- Total revenue does not exceed $5 million, except for 2-1-1 CBOs and Health care CBOs
- Tax-exempt
- Directly offer one of the following services to a community at specific geographic locations in California: 2-1-1 Service Provider, Educational Instruction, Health care, Job Training, Job Placement, or a Community Technology program
- Provides its community access to the internet, except for 2-1-1 CBOs and Health care CBOs
- Demonstrate that a majority of the board members reside within the state or are members of the community of interest served by the CBO (such as disability)
- Demonstrate that it provides its services to the community without charge or at discounted rates
Subcategory of CBO: Health care CBOs
In addition to the general CBO criteria above, Health care CBOs must:
- Have annual revenues of less than $50 million
- Have licensed medical personnel on site providing Health care services
- Accept medical plan such as Medi-Cal, Medicare, Department of Veteran’s Affair insurance, and/or provides services without charge or at a minimal fee
Subcategory of Health care CBO: California Telehealth Network Members
- Must individually qualify by meeting the requirements for Health care CBOs
California Community Colleges
- Must submit an application with current Management Information System code
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 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 Consolidated Communications 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 Consolidated Communications 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.
Consolidated Communications Services Eligible for CTF Discounts
The CTF uses the Universal Services Administrative Company’s (USAC) E-rate definitions for Digital Transmission Service, Internet Access and Wireless Internet Access, with certain exceptions. There may be some items from USAC’s eligibility list that are not represented below and therefore not eligible for CTF discounts. For example some maintenance charges are on the USAC list but are not eligible for CTF discounts.
The following services listed under these categories are eligible for CTF reimbursements:
Digital Transmission Service
- Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
- DS-1, DS-3
- Ethernet
- Fiber
- Frame Relay/Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC)
- Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN, BRI, PRI)
- OC-1, OC-3, OC-12, OC-N
- Switched Mulitimegabit Data Service (SMDS)
- T-1, T-3, Fractional T-1
- Wide Area Networks (WAN)
In addition, Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) is also eligible when used in conjunction with another CTF-eligible service.
Internet Access - Support in this funding category is generally only available for basic conduit access to the Internet but is not available for content, equipment purchased by applicants, and services beyond basic conduit access to the Internet. Basic conduit access technologies include but are not limited to:
- Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
- Fiber/Leased Dark Fiber
- Telephone dial-up
- T-1 lines
- Wide Area Network (WAN)
CTF Application Process
All applicants must be approved by the CPUC in order to receive CTF discounts. The CPUC application can be found at the CPUC website http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/ctf/. Once on that website, scroll down to where it says: “How can I apply to receive the CTF discount?” to view the CPUC CTF Service Discounts Certification Application and associated instructions.
*NOTE: Your CPUC CTF Service Discounts Certification Application must contain an original signature (not faxed or photocopied) for your request to be processed.
Once you review this information and ascertain that your organization qualifies for these discounts, please complete the CPUC CTF Service Discounts Certification Application (“Application”) and remit to:
CPUC, Telecommunications Division
Attention: California Teleconnect Fund
505 Van Ness Avenue, Third Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102
NOTE: For additional information on the CTF Program, see CPUC website.
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. Consolidated Communications is not responsible for providing discounts in the instance where funding is exhausted or the program is suspended by the CPUC.
For more information please contact our Business office via email cci.business@consolidated.com or call 1.844.YOUR.CCI (1.844.968.7224).