How do I become a registered vendor for Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program?
The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) is responsible for vendor and service provider registration. Solix Inc. (NECA) no longer registers STAP vendors. Interested vendors must fill out the updated STAP Vendor Application forms and submit to the STAP Coordinator of the PUCT. The forms must be filled out in their entirety and submitted by the 20th of each month to become a STAP vendor the following month.
You can find the application form at the http://www.puc.state.tx.us/relay/stapv/vendor_stap_form.pdf
Please note that if all these forms are not filled out completely, vendor will not be considered for approval for the STAP program. This may cause delay of additional 30 days in processing the application.
Vendor shall mail STAP Application forms to Karlene Pakula, STAP Coordinator at the following address:
Public Utility Commission of Texas
Attn: KKarlene Pakula STAP Coordinator
1701 N. Congress Avenue
PO Box 13326
Austin, Texas 78711-3326
Or you can fax it to Karlene Pakula, STAP Coordinator, at 512-936-7116.
After the vendor information, application, and bank routing information forms have been received and reviewed by the STAP coordinator, if approved, vendor will receive a letter from the PUC indicating approved status and a start date; a copy of that letter will be sent to Solix Inc.. Vendor may receive a call or letter from Solix Inc. if there are problems with bank routing information.
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How will I be reimbursed for a voucher?
SOLIX is the new contracted Texas Universal Service Fund (TUSF) Administrator. Solix Inc. manages the financial portion of Relay Texas and STAP. STAP vendors must send all vouchers to Solix Inc. for reimbursement.
A voucher received by Solix Inc. must be signed by the vendor and the voucher recipient; the dates should clearly show that the product and voucher were exchanged at the same time. A copy of the sales receipt must accompany the voucher. The receipt must have the following information:
- Cost of item
- Description/type of the equipment or services sold
- Identification of STAP product as listed on the DARS website
- Date of voucher and product exchange
Vendors will be reimbursed for the face value of the voucher or the sales price of the equipment, whichever is less. Vendors will be reimbursed electronically by electronic funds transfer to their bank. There will be no checks. Payment will be made within 45 days of receipt of all required voucher information. However, rules allow PUCT to withhold payment of a voucher if there is a dispute between the recipient and the vendor regarding the equipment or services.
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If the STAP product is sent by mail (online or catalog ordering), how do I make sure I get the recipient's signature?
Vendor is required to submit proof of signature to Solix Inc. to receive reimbursement from TUSF. Because of this requirement, you must use a carrier that provides a delivery option which requires a delivery signature for the package from the designated recipient. If the designated recipient is not able to sign, then a person who has power of attorney of the designated person can sign the proof of signature.
If the delivery service is unable to get a delivery signature, the service will not deliver the STAP product and may give the voucher recipient several (usually 3) opportunities to receive the package at home or they may leave instruction for voucher recipient to pick up the product - failing that, then the product will be mailed back to vendor.
Please note a new online or catalog ordering procedure will require additional activity by which vendors are required to send a voucher recipient a letter of acknowledgement of receiving a voucher from the voucher recipient; the letter should show the date when vendor receives the voucher.
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I work with a distributor or manufacturer so the STAP products are mailed directly to the voucher recipients, since I do not have STAP products on display or in stock, is this permitted?
Yes, but with the new policy vendors are responsible for ensuring that voucher recipients have instructions to assist them in understanding how to use their STAP products. PUC will randomly call voucher recipients to ask if vendors provided adequate instructions and information regarding their STAP products. It is highly recommended that the distributor or manufacturer mail STAP products to vendors so they can exchange product with voucher at the same time (ideal) and be there to explain how the STAP products work.
It is also highly recommended that vendors have STAP products (perhaps the most popular type) on display to explain to interested parties the benefits of such products.
At any rate, proof of delivery and an acknowledgement letter to the voucher recipient for having gotten his/her voucher are required.
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What if a customer exchanged a voucher for a more expensive product and they paid the cost difference with a check. The check bounced and the customer is not cooperating with me and would not return the product. Will PUC or DARS help me resolve this problem?
PUCT and DARS are unable to assist in this matter.
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I am a vendor and I have a qualifying disability. Am I permitted to apply for a Specialized Telecommunications Assistance Program voucher?
Yes.
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What can I, as a vendor, purchase with the voucher and what cost items can I collect from Texas Universal Service Fund?
Only products that are listed on the DARS approved STAP product list will be reimbursed by the TUSF. It is important that STAP product is correctly identified and noted on the voucher. Failure to do so may delay reimbursement.
The list of STAP products can be found at
http://www.dars.state.tx.us/dhhs/vouval.shtml
Keep in mind that the voucher is to purchase telecommunications equipment that provides access to the telecommunications network. The voucher will not pay for items such as shipping and handling, extended warranties, batteries, carrying cases, extra paper, etc. Such items are to be paid for by the customer. Please contact the DARS if you are uncertain whether items are reimbursable.
Pursuant to PUC Substantive Rule 26.415, the Public Utility Commission provides guidelines to facilitate the payment of vendors who have accepted a voucher issued by the DARS for the purchase of STAP devices or services.
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I see that a two-way communication pager is part of the STAP approved product list. I'd like to sell pagers, how do I do that?
The decision is yours on how you want to conduct this type of business, however, it is strongly suggested that vendors wishing to sell pagers secure a license or agreement with the Wireless Provider. With an agreement or license, vendors can take advantage of tools offered by the Wireless Provider and be able to facilitate the voucher process much more easily.
If you do secure a License Agreement, the PUCT STAP coordinator will be happy to make sure the vendor listing in website clearly shows "Licensed Pager Retailer/Reseller" or some wording reflecting your licensure status so that the voucher recipients looking for a pager dealer will know if the vendor is licensed or not.
One recurring problem with 2 way communication pagers is the credit check of the voucher recipient. If the credit rating is not good, then the service is not activated until a deposit is paid (normally a large amount of money) which leaves the voucher recipient stuck with a pager without service, leading the recipient to try to return the pager to the vendor. Thus it is strongly suggested that before the vendor accepts the voucher for a pager that the credit rating for the applying person be checked or be able to offer the pager with a pre-paid month to month option.
The new policy clearly states that vendors and the voucher recipient must provide instructions and information assisting voucher recipients in fully understanding the STAP product. This means the vendor will need to make sure the voucher recipient is aware of and informed about the financial obligation (credit deposits and monthly charges) as well as the service coverage of the pager and whether or not it meets the needs of the recipient.
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I see that CapTel - a Captioning Telephone- is part of the STAP approved product list. I'd like to sell CapTel, how do I do that?
Weitbrecht Communications, Inc (WCI - who is one of the major distributors of Ultratec Company) is the distributor of CapTel products, so you will need to contact WCI to secure a License or Agreement to sell CapTel products in Texas.
Note: Remember, STAP vendors need to list all appropriate STAP products as listed by DARS and submit that to PUC's STAP Coordinator. If the STAP vendor does not list CapTel as one of the products, and gets a voucher for CapTel - the vendor will NOT be reimbursed for the CapTel because it was not on the submitted list of STAP products that Vendors are required to submit to STAP Coordinator.
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I've already submitted a list of STAP products to the STAP coordinator, and I see that I want to sell another STAP product that was not previously listed; can I sell the product anyway?
No. SOLIX has the instruction that if the list of STAP products that the vendor submitted does not have such STAP product on the list; Solix Inc. will not reimburse the voucher. To be eligible for new or additional STAP products, you must submit a new list of STAP products that includes the new ones and wait for STAP Coordinator to alert Solix Inc. of the new list from the vendor.
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Am I, as a STAP vendor, required to submit an annual report of the details of the quantity and types of equipment sold in the previous fiscal year (Sept 1 thru August 31) due on October 1?
Yes, all STAP vendors are required to submit the annual report. Failure to do so will result in the PUC withholding reimbursement of any vouchers until the annual report is submitted. The submitted report will need to match data submitted to Solix Inc. on the number of STAP products redeemed as well as other data.
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What is the best or safest way to send batch of vouchers to Solix Inc.? Can I send all the vouchers to SOLIX once a month?
Since the burden is on the vendor if the vouchers get lost in the mail system, it is best if the vendor sends vouchers via certified mail. Be sure to keep a copy of the certified document to prove that vouchers were sent.
As to how often, it is strongly recommended you send a batch of vouchers on a weekly basis. It will make it easier for Solix Inc. to be able to reimburse vendors in a timely manner and spread out the workload for Solix Inc. over the month rather than all at the end of month.
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What is the difference between a CapTel (captioned telephone) and a VCO phone? Aren't they the same product?
No, they are not the same product. This is a recurring issue with vendors exchanging products for the wrong voucher type and risking losing their right to reimbursement. Be sure to understand the difference between a CapTel and a VCO phone. A voucher for a "Captioned Telephone" (CapTel) can currently only be exchanged by a licensed CapTel dealer.
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Can I get more than one piece of STAP equipment if it is under the voucher value? Example: I get a TTY that is retailed at $300 and the voucher value for TTY is $419, so can I get 2 signalers that have voucher value of $50 (combined total $100) and the total with TTY of $300 plus $100 is still under $400?
No. The vendor only can get one TTY and one Signaler for total of $369. The vendor also cannot put down $469 (419 plus 50) to collect more money on a transaction that only totaled $369. It has to be the $369 value that should be submitted to Solix Inc.
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