<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:dt="uuid:C2F41010-65B3-11d1-A29F-00AA00C14882" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
        {font-family:Wingdings;
        panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
        {font-family:"Cambria Math";
        panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
        {font-family:Calibri;
        panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
        {font-family:Verdana;
        panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
        {margin:0in;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        font-size:11.0pt;
        font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        color:#0563C1;
        text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        color:#954F72;
        text-decoration:underline;}
p
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
        margin-right:0in;
        mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
        margin-left:0in;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
span.EmailStyle17
        {mso-style-type:personal-compose;
        font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
        color:windowtext;}
span.apple-converted-space
        {mso-style-name:apple-converted-space;}
.MsoChpDefault
        {mso-style-type:export-only;
        font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
        {size:8.5in 11.0in;
        margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
        {page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
        {mso-list-id:191962854;
        mso-list-template-ids:660127340;}
@list l0:level1
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0B7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level2
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:o;
        mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:"Courier New";
        mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@list l0:level3
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level4
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:2.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level5
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:2.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level6
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:3.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level7
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:3.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level8
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:4.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level9
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:4.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1
        {mso-list-id:566764147;
        mso-list-template-ids:2018045742;}
@list l1:level1
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0B7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1:level2
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:o;
        mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:"Courier New";
        mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@list l1:level3
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level4
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:2.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level5
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:2.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level6
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:3.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level7
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:3.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level8
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:4.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level9
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:4.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l2
        {mso-list-id:684021369;
        mso-list-template-ids:1241158392;}
@list l2:level1
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0B7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Symbol;}
@list l2:level2
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:o;
        mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:"Courier New";
        mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@list l2:level3
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l2:level4
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:2.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l2:level5
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:2.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l2:level6
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:3.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l2:level7
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:3.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l2:level8
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:4.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l2:level9
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:4.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l3
        {mso-list-id:1394767145;
        mso-list-template-ids:-48837430;}
@list l3:level1
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0B7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Symbol;}
@list l3:level2
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:o;
        mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:"Courier New";
        mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@list l3:level3
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l3:level4
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:2.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l3:level5
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:2.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l3:level6
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:3.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l3:level7
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:3.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l3:level8
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:4.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l3:level9
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:4.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l4
        {mso-list-id:1573543762;
        mso-list-template-ids:625124498;}
@list l4:level1
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0B7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Symbol;}
@list l4:level2
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:o;
        mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:"Courier New";
        mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@list l4:level3
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l4:level4
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:2.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l4:level5
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:2.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l4:level6
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:3.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l4:level7
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:3.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l4:level8
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:4.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l4:level9
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:4.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l5
        {mso-list-id:2120491264;
        mso-list-template-ids:1856303040;}
@list l5:level1
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0B7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Symbol;}
@list l5:level2
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:o;
        mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:"Courier New";
        mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@list l5:level3
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l5:level4
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:2.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l5:level5
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:2.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l5:level6
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:3.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l5:level7
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:3.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l5:level8
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:4.0in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l5:level9
        {mso-level-number-format:bullet;
        mso-level-text:\F0A7;
        mso-level-tab-stop:4.5in;
        mso-level-number-position:left;
        text-indent:-.25in;
        mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
        font-family:Wingdings;}
ol
        {margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
        {margin-bottom:0in;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p style="line-height:11.25pt;background:white"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:white">USAC News Brief released today:<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:11.25pt;background:white"><strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#333333;background:white">February 3, 2017</span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:11.25pt;background:white;font-stretch: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0066B3">E-rate Funding Year 2017 Application Filing Window Opens February 27, 2017</span></strong><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0066B3"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:11.25pt;background:white;font-stretch: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#333333">Dear E-rate Program Participant:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:11.25pt;background:white;font-stretch: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#333333">USAC is pleased to announce the application filing window for Funding Year (FY) 2017 will open on Monday, February 27, 2017 at 12:00 noon EST and close on Thursday, May 11, 2017 at
 11:59 PM EDT.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:11.25pt;background:white;font-stretch: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#333333">All applicants can begin preparing now for successful filing of your FY2017 application by taking the following steps:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:11.25pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;background:white;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Log-in or create your account in the <a href="https://portal.usac.org/suite/">E-rate Productivity Center</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(EPC) and then review, update or assign user
 rights for anyone who will need access for FY2017. Please note, Google Chrome is the preferred browser for EPC. No matter what browser you use, be sure the latest version is installed on your computer.  <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:11.25pt;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2;background:white;font-stretch: normal">
<b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Review your profile and confirm all of your information is accurate including your organization’s name, address and entities.Your profile is now unlocked and available for you to insert any further
 updates but will be locked again on February 26, 2017 at 11:59 PM EST.<br>
</span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif"><br>
School districts should take extra care to be sure they have inserted the latest National School Lunch Program (NSLP) student counts (or alternative discount mechanisms) as well as included new construction, non-instructional facilities and Adult Education
 and Head Start programs.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br>
<br>
Libraries should confirm their square footage, main branch, and public school district of the main branch information is correct and that any bookmobiles or kiosks are included.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:11.25pt;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3;background:white;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">If you have not started the competitive bidding process please begin now. There is no need to wait for the window to open. The USAC<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.usac.org/sl/applicants/step01/default.aspx">website</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>provides
 step-by-step instructions.  <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p style="line-height:11.25pt;background:white;font-stretch: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#333333">As always, representatives at our Client Service Bureau (CSB) are available to help you at 888-203-8100 or simply open a customer service case in EPC.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:11.25pt;background:white;font-stretch: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#333333">We recognize that 2016 was a challenging year for many in the E-rate community and all of us in the Schools and Libraries Division are working to make 2017 and beyond a simpler, faster
 and more efficient experience. In 2017, we will be taking steps to improve the stakeholder experience and continuously improve EPC.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:11.25pt;background:white;font-stretch: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#333333">Specifically:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:11.25pt;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo4;background:white;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">We anticipate a single filing window for 2017 and better prioritization of application processing so funding decisions are provided in a timelier manner.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:11.25pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo5;background:white;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Applicants will recognize the flow of the online application process, and further enhancements will be available including the "Copy My FRN" feature along with the templates for uploads of large
 entries. This will assist all applicants.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:11.25pt;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo6;background:white;font-stretch: normal">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">Along with continued enhanced stakeholder education and outreach, the formation of a stakeholder innovation group who will provide guidance and feedback on the design of a new applicant portal.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p style="line-height:11.25pt;background:white;font-stretch: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#333333">All of us in the Schools and Libraries Division would like to thank you for your continued cooperation, patience and understanding. We look forward to a successful 2017 fund year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:11.25pt;background:white;font-stretch: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#333333">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="line-height:11.25pt;background:white;font-stretch: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#333333">Craig Davis<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br>
Vice President, Schools and Libraries Division<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.usac.org/sl/tools/news-briefs/preview.aspx?id=746">http://www.usac.org/sl/tools/news-briefs/preview.aspx?id=746</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A">Sonya Schryer Norris<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A">Library of Michigan<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A">702 W. Kalamazoo St.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A">PO Box 30009<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A">Lansing, MI 48909<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A">517-373-4457<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A"><a href="http://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan"><span style="color:#0563C1">http://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A"><a href="http://www.mel.org/"><span style="color:#0563C1">http://www.mel.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#44546A"><a href="http://www.michlibrary.org/"><span style="color:#0563C1">http://www.michlibrary.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="493" height="50" style="width:5.1333in;height:.525in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D27E1D.6E9537F0" alt="cte-horiz-michigan">   <a href="http://www.acteonline.org/ctemonth"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="51" height="66" style="width:.5333in;height:.6916in" id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image002.png@01D27E1D.6E9537F0" alt="cte month resized for signature"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Visit <a href="http://www.acteonline.org/ctemonth"><span style="color:blue">www.acteonline.org/ctemonth
</span></a>for more information on Career and Technical Education<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt">February is Career and Technical Education Month in Michigan.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>