California Teleconnect Fund Program

The California Teleconnect Fund (CTF) provides qualified organizations a 50% discount on Internet access and select Data Transmission services offered by Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications (PST) in California.

• The application of actual discounts may vary for CTF participants who are eligible for federal E-rate discounts or who receive federal rural healthcare discounts.

PST Services Eligible for CTF Discounts

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Qualified organizations may receive applicable discounts on the PST services listed below.

Fiber Optic Cable Services

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 through 12).
  • Qualified schools may not have endowments of more than $50,000,000.
• 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 or job placement
    • Educational instruction
    • Or a nonprofit CBO operating a community technology center engaged in diffusing technology into a local community and training residents with limited or no access to the Internet and other technologies.
  • CBOs providing 2-1-1 information and referral services also qualify for the discount rate.
  • A “tax exempt organization” refers to one described in Section 501(c)(3) or 501(d) of the Internal Revenue Code (Title 26 of the United States Code).
  • CBOs must apply and obtain approval for each location.
  • Certain certification rules apply — please refer to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for more information.
• California Community Colleges
  • California community colleges and/or districts.

These discounted services may not be resold or shared with any other non-qualifying organization or person.

Senate Bill 1102 – Statewide Average E-rate Discount

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.

Impact on Schools & Libraries

• 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 must 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 through 12 schools and public libraries.

Statewide E-rate Percentage Updates

• The statewide average E-rate percentage is updated each July.
• The percentage can vary annually.
• Visit the (CPUC) website for the yearly statewide average E-rate percentages.

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. The PST family of companies is not responsible for providing discounts in the instance where funding is exhausted, or the program is suspended by the CPUC.