I would suggest making the options for Form 470 Category 1 services into a series of check boxes where one or more options can be selected, rather than a drop down menu where only one option can be selected.   

I have run into the situation when filing E-Rate forms on behalf of my employer, when our District is open to a number of services or mediums for data service or Internet service delivery so long as they meet our objectives (speed, latency, service level agreements, etc).  

The drop down menu that allows only one option to be selected caused confusion as to which of the options on the menu allowed for the greatest breadth of services, and whether or not that breadth of services really encompassed everything we were open to purchasing.  

For instance, if our school district was in a year where current contracts have expired such that we are seeking bids for an ISP and transport to that ISP for the coming E-Rate funding year, our district would be open to bundled services (ISP and transport-to-ISP from a single provider), but we would also be open to bids on a standalone ISP and separate transport services to that ISP. If costs on transport from providers are not practical, we might also be open to self-provisioning a transport circuit to an ISPs regional hub.   We would review all submitted bids for all of these options and select an option or a combination of services (ISP and separate transport) to best meet our needs in a cost-effective and quality manner.   

The current 470 with the drop down that allows only one option to be selected for category 1 services makes the user submit multiple service requests when in reality this process may be able to be simplified by offering check-boxes for a series of service and transport types, allowing multiple selections.  The filer could check any or all of the service types they're interested in. Vendors could easily seach submitted 470s based on the types of services they're able to provide. Vendors would have more specific information on a filer's needs than the present system.   The FCC could update the service types on the list, adding or removing as technology evolves.  

Logic rules could be built-in to this process to tell the applicant they need to select one or more other types of options if they only click on "self-provisioned network" to assure that they also consider provider-based leased networks as program rules require.    

To me, a series of check boxes seems much more fitting to the needs of this portion of the 470 form than the drop down menu. The proposed possible redesign of category 2 services into a series of checkboxes appears to be a solid step forward to ease the application process for filers and allow vendors to accurately search for clients based on services or products sought.   I would advise pursuing the same format for Category 1 services.  

With present technologies available, I might suggest checkboxes for category one services including something to the effect of: -Bundled ISP/Transport services  -ISP only  -Fiber -Copper -Wireless  -Self-provisioned network construction

I would more generally just suggest applying check-box selection format rather than drop down to the FCC's planned series of category one service options.