Questions & Answers

Q: Why does ShoutPoint for Schools use a broadcast messaging system and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system from a separate company, Infinite Campus, when ShoutPoint makes their own broadcast messaging and IVR systems?

A: Infinite Campus is focused exclusively on the education market, and has significant expertise in the unique requirements of school systems.


Q: If we connect phone lines to a broadcast messaging and an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, doesn't that make those phone lines ineligible for E-rate funding?

A: No. E-rate will fund the "conduit for communication," such as T-1 lines or VoIP lines, but will not fund content-specific features. What this means is that the phone lines or interconnected VoIP lines used for an educational purpose from Shoutpoint or any other provider are eligible for E-rate funds, but components such as broadcast messaging and IVR are not eligible. E-rate will help pay for the cost of the lines, but will not pay for the IVR or broadcast messaging features.

Applicants in the past have obtained E-rate funding for T-1 lines that connect to broadcast messaging and IVR systems. ShoutPoint for Schools provides this same functionality, but using Voice-over-IP, which generally is a more economical solution.

Q: Should I be concerned about the quality of interconnected VoIP?

A: No, as we are experts in this technology and process millions of calls on a daily basis where live people are answering calls and poor quality issues such as static are unacceptable.

Q: What should the description of your service be, so we can put it in our E-rate Form 470.

A: ShoutPoint can only provide “vendor-neutral” program information during an applicant’s competitive bidding process. If you are interested in interconnected VoIP services from ShoutPoint or another service provider, see our document E-rate Information.

Q: What is the ShoutPoint SPIN number?

A: 143032646

Q:How many Voice-over-IP lines should a school or school district obtain?

A:Schools and school districts can have widely varying needs, particularly if replacing standard telephone service with Voice-over-IP lines. Your ShoutPoint sales representative can assist in developing an optimal approach. When ShoutPoint Voice-over-IP lines are used in conjunction with the Infinite Campus broadcast messaging and IVR components, ShoutPoint experience suggests that the school or district obtain a minimum of one line for every 300 students. Your ShoutPoint sales representative can provide recommendations about your service requirements and guidance about these technical issues


Q: I’ve heard that ShoutPoint’s interconnected VoIP solution includes “burst mode.” What is burst mode?

A: Burst Mode from ShoutPoint allows the capacity of a customer's VoIP communication to be temporarily increased during emergency periods. This effectively allows faster communication during times that can involve particularly heavy volume. Burst mode is included as a part of the ShoutPoint service at no additional cost.


Q: Some E-rate services can only be obtained by a telecommunications provider. Is ShoutPoint a telecommunications provider?

A: USAC has issued guidance suggesting that a provider of interconnected voice-over-IP services obtain certification as an eligible telecommunications provider.  ShoutPoint is listed as a telecommunications provider. (See the FCC’s Eligible Services List at pages 21 and 22.)

Q: What is ShoutPoint’s 911 Service and how does it work?

A: For more information refer to the 911 service section.