California Teleconnect Fund Program
The California Teleconnect Fund (CTF) provides qualified organizations a 50% discount on internet access and select telecommunications services, as well as a 25% discount on voice services offered by WorldNet Communication Services. (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 http://cpuc.ca.gov/ctf/
WCS Services eligible for CFT discounts
Telecommunications Services: Qualified organizations may receive applicable discounts on the WorldNet Communications Services listed below. The CTF discount would only apply to the base rate for the
Voice and Data services throughout California, including:
T1/PRI/ISDN voice circuits
SIP Trunks
VOIP
Caller ID
DIDs
Combination Voice & DATA Circuits
High Speed Internet - Fiber, COAX, EOC, DIA, T1, DSL, EoFW, etc.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
CTF customers must qualify under one of the following categories:
Public or Nonprofit Schools: Public schools, nonprofit schools, and schools run by a religious order that are incorporated as a nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation or as a nonprofit Religious Corporation providing elementary or secondary education (grades K-12). Qualified schools may not have endowments of more than $50 million.
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.
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.
These discounted services may not be resold to, or shared with, any other non-qualifying organization or person.
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 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 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. WorldNet Communications Services is not responsible for providing discounts in the instance where funding is exhausted or the program is suspended by the CPUC.
California Teleconnect Fund Program Application Process
You must complete this two-step process in order to receive CTF discounts on eligible services:
Step 1: Submit Application to CPUC
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://cpuc.ca.gov/ctf/ @ California Teleconnect Fund. 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.
Step 2: Submit CPUC Approval Letter
and CTF Discount Request Form to WCS
Once you are approved as a qualified CTF-eligible organization, the CPUC will provide you with an approval letter and a copy of your approved application. You must provide WCS a copy of your approval letter and approval application.
Please note that once you are approved by the CPUC, you must contact WCS within 30 calendar days of approval in order to receive CTF discounts retroactive to the date your application was received by the CPUC. If you contact WCS after 30 calendar days, your CTF discounts will go into effect the date the completed request form is received.
Submit a copy of your approval letter and approval application to:
WorldNet Communications Services, Inc.
80 Wood Rd, Suite 308
Camarillo, Ca 93010
Or email to:
If you have any questions in regards to the CTF Program please call or email
Marianne Wiltjer
805-585-6358