TIN:
SCHEDULE O
(Form 990 or 990-EZ)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
(Form 990 or 990-EZ)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Supplemental Information to Form 990 or 990-EZ
Complete to provide information for responses to specific questions on
Form 990 or 990-EZ or to provide any additional information.
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
OMB No. 1545-0047
2019
Open to Public
Inspection
Inspection
Name of the organization
TWIN CITIES SCHOOLS'
TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP
TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP
Employer identification number
41-1804970
41-1804970
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| MISSION STATEMENT | THE CORPORATION IS ORGANIZED AND WILL BE OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR "CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL AND "SOCIAL WELFARE" PURPOSES WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTIONS 501(C)(3) AND 501(C)(4), RESPECTIVELY, OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. TO THIS END, THE NONPROFIT SHALL UNDERTAKE ACTIVITIES TO: SUPPORT THE PROVISION OF QUALITY AND DIVERSE INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA CONTENT AND CAPABILITIES TO EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DATA SERVICES AND INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO PROVIDED TO ACCREDITED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGED IN THE FORMAL EDUCATION OF ENROLLED STUDENTS. FOSTER OPEN, HONEST AND OUTSPOKEN MEDIA THAT HELP USERS TO BE A POPULAR DEMOCRATIC CHECK ON BOTH GOVERNMENT POWER AND CONCENTRATED PRIVATE PRIVILEGE; EXPAND THE DISSEMINATION OF MEDIA, AND POINTS OF VIEW CARRIED BY THEM, THAT OFFER DISSENTING, ALTERNATIVE, OR CRITICALLY CONSTRUCTIVE INFORMATION AND CONCEPTS TO THE MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS IN BOTH LOCAL AND GLOBAL CONTEXTS; ENGAGE IN ADDITONAL SOCIAL WELFARE, CHARITABLE, SCIENTIFIC, AND/OR EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AS ARE CONSISTENT WITH OPERATIONS THAT MAY BE UNDERTAKEN BY ORGANIZATIONS DESCRIBED IN, AND THUS EXEMPT FROM TAXATION UNDER, SECTION 501(C)(4) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE, AS NOW ENACTED OR HEREAFTER AMENDED. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 2 | THRU JOHN SCHWARTZ'S ROLE IN EBS SUPPORT SERVICES, LLC HE IS EFFECTIVELY THE EMPLOYER FOR VOQAL TWIN CITIES'S CEO AND CFO. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 3 | MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY: EBS SUPPORT SERVICES LLC PO BOX 6060 BOULDER, COLORADO 80306 JOHN SCHWARTZ, PRESIDENT $21,135 ADAM MILLER, CEO - $16,354 BARBARA HUNTER, CFO - $19,178 SALARIES PAID BY EBS SUPPORT SERVICES LLC FOR THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDED TO VOQAL TWIN CITIES. IN 2009 THE FIVE VOQAL NONPROFITS FORMED EBS SUPPORT SERVICES, LLC. VOQAL TWIN CITIES OWNS 13.81% OF EBS SUPPORT SERVICES, LLC AND PAYS EBSSS, LLC FOR THE COST OF PERSONNEL PROVIDING SERVICES TO VOQAL TWIN CITIES, AS WELL AS SHARED OFFICE SPACE AND EQUIPMENT. EBSSS, LLC, AS WELL AS THE OTHER LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES LISTED BELOW, ARE ALL OWNED EXCLUSIVELY BY THE VOQAL NONPROFITS; THERE ARE NO OTHER OWNERS. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 8B | THERE IS NO COMMITTEE WITH AUTHORITY TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNING BODY. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B | THE 990 IS REVIEWED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S ACCOUNTANTS, BUSINESS MANAGER, CFO, AND AT LEAST ONE CORPORATE OFFICER. ADDITIONALLY THE FORM IS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD MEMBERS AFTER IT IS FILED. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C | EACH RESPONSIBLE PERSON WHO IS A DIRECTOR OR OFFICER HAS A DUTY TO DISCLOSE TO THE BOARD (OR TO ANY COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD THAT IS CONSIDERING A DECISION TO WHICH THE CONFLICT APPLIED) THE MATERIAL FACTS OF ANY PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR ACTION OF THE ORGANIZATION IN WHICH SUCH RESPONSIBLE PERSON HAS ANY CONFLICTS. EACH RESPONSIBLE PERSON WHO IS A STAFF MEMBER, HAS A DUTY TO DISCLOSE TO THE MANAGER OF EBSSS, LLC AND SUPERVISOR THE MATERIAL FACTS OF ANY PROPOSED TRANSACTION OF THE ORGANIZATION IN WHICH SUCH PERSON HAS ANY CONFLICT. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY RELIES ON SUCH DISCLOSURE. A RESPONSIBLE PERSON WHO FAILS TO FOLLOW THE PROTOCOLS ESTABLISHED IN THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY SHALL BE SUBJECT TO MEANINGFUL DISCIPLINARY ACTION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UP TO AND INCLUDING REMOVAL FROM THE BOARD OR THEIR POSITION WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 | ALL SERVICES PERFORMED ARE FROM SHARED EMPLOYEES OF A SHARED SERVICES COMPANY. THIS COMPANY HAS AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MADE UP OF BOARD MEMBERS OF NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT IT SERVES. THIS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE HAS BEEN CHARGED BY THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION BOARDS TO OVERSEE PERSONNEL MATTERS INCLUDING EXECUTIVE AND STAFF COMPENSATION. STAFF PREPARED ANANNUAL SALARY BENCHMARKING REPORT FOR ALL STAFF POSITIONS AND AN ANNUAL CEO SALARY REVIEW THAT DESCRIBED EACH POSITION AND COMPARED THE POSITION TO THREE SALARY SURVEYS: MOUNTAIN STATES EMPLOYERS COUNCIL MOST RECENT NON-PROFIT/FOUNDATION COMPENSATION, MOUNTAIN STATES EMPLOYERS COUNCIL MOST RECENT COLORADO BENCHMARK COMPENSATION, AND MOST RECENT COLORADO NON-PROFIT ASSOCIATION SALARY AND BENEFITS SURVEY. IN ADDITION, THE SALARY BENCHMARKING REPORT IS PERIODICALLY REVIEWED BY AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR TO ENSURE THE USE OF PROPER METHODOLOGY AND ETHICAL STANDARDS. THIS REPORT, THE THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR REPORT AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION WAS REVIEWED IN DEPTH BY THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WHICH SUMMARIZED ITS REVIEW TO ALL OF THE BOARDS. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 | THE ORGANIZATION DOES NOT MAKE ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. |
| FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9: | FORM 1120-POL TAX -43,493. |
| FORM 990: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | BACKGROUND THESE ADDITIONAL, VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURES ARE INTENDED TO GIVE THE INTERESTED READER GREATER INSIGHT INTO TWIN CITIES SCHOOLS' TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP D/B/A VOQAL TWIN CITIES. ON BEHALF OF A NUMBER OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, VOQAL TWIN CITIES' PRESIDENT, JOHN SCHWARTZ, LED AN EFFORT TO APPLY FOR WHAT WERE THEN REFERRED TO AS INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION FIXED SERVICE (ITFS) LICENSES FROM THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION. THOSE APPLICATIONS WERE ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED IN THE EARLY 1980S. MR. SCHWARTZ BELIEVED THAT SEPARATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WITH LOCAL BOARDS OF DIRECTORS WOULD BETTER SERVE THE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES COVERED BY THESE LICENSES. IN THE END, FIVE NONPROFITS LED BY MR. SCHWARTZ APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 11 ITFS LICENSES. TODAY, JOHN SCHWARTZ REMAINS ON THE BOARD OF THOSE FIVE NONPROFITS, WHICH WILL HEREAFTER BE REFERRED TO AS THE VOQAL NONPROFITS. VOQAL TWIN CITIES IS ONE OF THOSE FIVE. FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES, VOQAL TWIN CITIES PROVIDED FREE EDUCATIONAL VIDEO PROGRAMMING TO SCHOOLS VIA ITS FCC-LICENSED ITFS STATIONS. WHILE DOING SO, IT SHARED SOME OF ITS OVERHEAD AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS WITH THE OTHER FOUR VOQAL NONPROFITS, WHICH WERE PROVIDING VERY SIMILAR SERVICE TO THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THIS APPROACH RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS, ALLOWING VOQAL TWIN CITIES TO DELIVER BETTER EDUCATIONAL SERVICE. THE SHARING OF PERSONNEL AND OTHER RESOURCES AMONG THE VOQAL NONPROFITS WAS THE BEGINNING OF WHAT WOULD LATER BECOME EBS SUPPORT SERVICES, LLC (EBSSS) THE UMBRELLA SERVICE ORGANIZATION THAT TODAY PROVIDES PERSONNEL AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TO ALL FIVE VOQAL NONPROFITS. TO EXPAND THEIR ABILITY TO FULFILL ITS EDUCATIONAL MISSION AND OTHERWISE BENEFIT THE PUBLIC, THE VOQAL NONPROFITS ENTERED INTO VARIOUS SPECTRUM USE AGREEMENTS WITH COMMERCIAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS OPERATORS. VOQAL ALLOWED COMMERCIAL FIRMS TO USE THEIR ITFS, AND, LATER, EDUCATIONAL BROADBAND SERVICE (EBS) EXCESS SPECTRUM CAPACITY IN THEIR WIRELESS NETWORKS. IN EXCHANGE, THESE AGREEMENTS PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL BENEFITS THROUGH SPECTRUM ROYALTY PAYMENTS, AS WELL AS MATERIAL IN-KIND EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS SUCH AS HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND INTERNET ACCOUNTS. THE VOQAL NONPROFITS' CURRENT SPECTRUM AGREEMENTS ARE WITH CLEARWIRE SPECTRUM HOLDINGS II, LLC, A SPRINT SUBSIDIARY (HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS SPRINT). WITH THE INCREASED RESOURCES AFFORDED BY THESE MOST RECENT SPECTRUM AGREEMENTS, THE VOQAL NONPROFITS, INCLUDING VOQAL TWIN CITIES, EXPANDED THE NUMBER AND REACH OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO INCLUDE NEW EDUCATION VENTURES, AFFORDABLE INTERNET SERVICE FOR SCHOOLS AND NONPROFITS, CASH GRANTS, EBS SPECTRUM ADVOCACY AND MORE. AS IT EXPANDED, VOQAL TWIN CITIES CONTINUED TO SHARE RESOURCES WITH THE OTHER VOQAL NONPROFITS. IN 2013, TO EXTEND THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE VOQAL NONPROFITS AND TO REDUCE CONFUSION FOR SHARED WORK, EBSSS SECURED THE "VOQAL" TRADEMARK AND THE FIVE NONPROFITS, INCLUDING VOQAL TWIN CITIES, ADOPTED THE VOQAL BRAND. VOQAL HAS STRIVED TO FULFILL THE MISSION OF EBS, FROM ITS BEGINNINGS PROVIDING FREE, ITFS VIDEO TO SCHOOLS TO RECENT EFFORTS TO SUPPORT CHANGE-MAKERS IN EDUCATION. WHILE SOME VOQAL TWIN CITIES PROGRAMS SERVE WHAT MANY WOULD CONSIDER TRADITIONAL EDUCATIONAL ENTITIES LIKE K-12 SCHOOLS, VOQAL EMBRACES A BROADER VIEW OF EDUCATION AND AIMS TO ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE TO FOSTER A STRONGER, HEALTHIER DEMOCRACY. OUR PROJECTS ARE OFTEN AIMED AT THE ROOT CAUSES THAT BAR ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE BOTH IN AND OUT OF TRADITIONAL BRICK AND MORTAR INSTITUTIONS. EXAMPLES OF MORE TRADITIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS INCLUDE PROVIDING SCHOOLS WITH FREE AND HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED INTERNET ACCOUNTS AND MOBILE CITIZEN'S EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET BOTH AT SCHOOL AND AT HOME. IN ADDITION, VOQAL TWIN CITIES IS PROUD TO BE A FUNDER OF CRASH COURSE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS. CRASH COURSE IS AN EDUCATIONAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL FEATURING 10-MINUTE VIDEOS THAT CONDENSE COMPLEX TOPICS INTO QUIRKY, ENGAGING TUTORIALS. CRASH COURSE'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL HAS OVER 8 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS, AND THE VIDEOS ARE SHOWN IN CLASSROOMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS WATCHED BY THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. IN ADDITION TO THE PROJECTS LISTED ABOVE, VOQAL TWIN CITIES IS PART OWNER OF THE LLCS DETAILED BELOW. MOBILE CITIZEN, LLC (OWNED IN PART 11.25% BY VOQAL TWIN CITIES) IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE VOQAL NONPROFITS' CURRENT SPECTRUM AGREEMENTS AND THE BROADBAND INTERNET ACCOUNTS RECEIVED AS PART OF THOSE AGREEMENTS. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF PROVIDING INTERNET SERVICE INDIVIDUALLY, THE VOQAL NONPROFITS FORMED MOBILE CITIZEN, LLC TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF SOME OR ALL OF ITS OWNERS' BROADBAND ACCOUNTS. MOBILE CITIZEN, LLC SERVES SCHOOLS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCIES AND HAS FOCUSED MUCH OF ITS EFFORT ON BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. MOBILE CITIZEN OFFERS ONE OF THE LOWEST COST MOBILE BROADBAND RATE PLANS AVAILABLE TO SCHOOLS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCIES NATIONWIDE, WITH NO DATA CAPS. MOBILE CITIZEN WIRELESS BROADBAND SERVICE COSTS APPROXIMATELY ONE-FIFTH THE AMOUNT OF ITS COMMERCIAL EQUIVALENTS AND IS PROVIDED FREE IN SOME CASES. IN THE TWIN CITIES METRO AREA, MOBILE CITIZEN SERVES SCHOOLS AND NONPROFITS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES AS DIVERSE AS WORKFORCE PREPAREDNESS AND FREE COMPUTER TRAINING AND ACCESS PROGRAMS. THE MONEY THESE ORGANIZATIONS SAVE ON THE INTERNET WITH MOBILE CITIZEN ALLOWS THEM TO PUT THOSE DOLLARS TO USE FULFILLING THEIR ORGANIZATION'S MISSION. ANOTHER BENEFIT OF THE CURRENT SPECTRUM AGREEMENT WITH SPRINT IS THE ABILITY, THROUGH CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT, TO ADD ADDITIONAL SPECTRUM AND THUS HELP MAXIMIZE THE EDUCATIONAL POTENTIAL OF OTHER LICENSES. INDEPENDENT SPECTRUM, LLC (OWNED IN PART 9.38% BY VOQAL TWIN CITIES) WAS FORMED TO DO JUST THAT. INDEPENDENT SPECTRUM ACCOMPLISHES THIS TASK IN ONE OF TWO WAYS: 1) THE DIRECT PURCHASE AND TRANSFER OF AN EBS LICENSE TO AN INDEPENDENT SPECTRUM SUBSIDIARY AND SUBSEQUENT SPECTRUM USE AGREEMENT WITH SPRINT; OR 2) A SPECTRUM USE AGREEMENT WITH THE EBS LICENSEE AND SUBLICENSE OF SPECTRUM RIGHTS TO SPRINT. THROUGH THE 25 INDEPENDENT SPECTRUM SUBSIDIARIES FORMED TO-DATE, INDEPENDENT SPECTRUM HAS BEEN ABLE TO PASS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL AND FINANCIAL BENEFITS TO 39 EBS LICENSES. THIS "STRENGTH IN NUMBERS" APPROACH ALLOWS EBS LICENSE HOLDERS TO GAIN OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THEIR SPECTRUM THAT THEY WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO SECURE DEALING WITH COMMERCIAL OPERATORS ON THEIR OWN. AS OF THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2020, EBS LICENSEES CONTRACTING WITH INDEPENDENT SPECTRUM HAVE ACCESS TO OVER NINETEEN THOUSAND FREE BROADBAND INTERNET ACCOUNTS IN THE AGGREGATE. OVER THE COURSE OF THE EXPECTED 30-YEAR AGREEMENT TERMS, THE ESTIMATED FINANCIAL VALUE TO THESE EBS LICENSEES IS IN THE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND REPRESENTS SIGNIFICANT REVENUE STREAMS THAT CAN BE PUT TOWARDS FURTHERING THEIR EDUCATIONAL MISSIONS. FROM SMALL, RURAL COMMUNITIES LIKE ALTO, TX TO LARGER MARKETS LIKE MINNEAPOLIS, MN, INDEPENDENT SPECTRUM ASSISTS LICENSEES OF ALL SIZES AND TECHNOLOGICAL SOPHISTICATION TO MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS OF THEIR EBS SPECTRUM. |
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Cat. No. 51056K
Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2019
Additional Data
| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |