Click Here to see the 2019 E-RATE items! (pages 8-14)
E-rate, or the Universal Service Schools and Libraries Program, originated from the 1996 Telecom Act. Basically, the goal of the Act was for all Americans to have access to communication services. As a result, telecommunication companies pay a fee based on their revenue to the Universal Service Fund (USF) [created by the FCC and governed by the Universal Service Administration Company (USAC)]. This money is distributed to schools and libraries in part as a discount to the cost of Internet service. The E-rate Modernization Order (FCC 14-99), switched the focus of assistance from voice and Internet to primarily Internet. Beginning this year, only Internet and Internet related services are eligible for E-rate discounts.
Discounts range from 20%-90% and are based on the number of students enrolled in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) as well as the school’s urban and rural status. The services covered fall into two categories:
Data Transmission Services
Internet Access
Internal Connections
Managed Internal Broadband Services
Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections
Get the Full Details by clicking “Download”
Addressing inequalities has become more important as technology reshapes the educational landscape. In the first three parts of our series …
In our latest examination of the digital divides from the US Department of Education’s 2024 National Educational Technology Plan (NETP), …
As we continue our exploration into the digital divides highlighted in the US Department of Education’s 2024 National Educational Technology …
Ensuring the safety of our schools is more important than ever, and H.R. 7357, or the Securing Our Schools Act …
