Posts Tagged ‘E-Rate’
FCC Order Addresses Learning-On-The-Go Waiver
Posted on February 16, 2012The FCC has released an Order that grants in part and denies in part a request for waiver filed by the e-Bookroom Initiative concerning the Learning On-The-Go Pilot Program. Specifically, the Order grants the request for an extension of time for pilot participants to meet certain E-rate procedural deadlines, but denies a request to provide additional funding to program participants beyond what have already been committed to each project. The Learning-On-The-Go Pilot Program (also known as the E-rate Deployed Ubiquitously 2011 Pilot Program) provides approximately $9 million during the 2011-2012 funding year for 19 schools and 1 library in 14 states for projects that provide wireless Internet access to students when they are off of school premises and library patrons. The extension of time will allow those participants that did not receive a funding commitment until late 2011 to receive funding for their pilot projects for a full 12-month period. As a result, all projects will be allowed to continue for an entire school year, providing the Commission with more data on the successes or problems of every project.
FCC Releases E-Rate Eligible Services List for FY 2012
Posted on October 3, 2011The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau has released the eligible services list (ESL) for funding year (FY) 2012 for the schools and libraries universal service program (E-Rate). The annual ESL allows applicants to know what services and products are eligible for discounts under the E-rate program prior to applying for E-rate funding. In late June 2011, the Bureau released a draft ESL submitted by the Universal Service Administrative Company and received comment on the list. The ESL for FY 2012 contains most of the proposals made in the draft, and primarily consists of updates and clarifications to existing eligible services based on recent FCC decisions.
FCC Order Makes More E-Rate Funding Available
Posted on August 24, 2011The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau has released an Order that will have the effect of increasing E-Rate support for funding years (FY) 2010 and 2011. Specifically, the Order grants in part a petition to fund E-Rate priority two services at the 80 percent discount level for FY 2010 and directs the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to make available funds for FY 2010 priority two requests at all discount levels. The Order concludes a proceeding initiated by a petition filed by Funds for Learning, Inc. in February of 2011 which sought to reject a USAC recommendation to deny funding requests at the 80 percent discount level and below for priority 2 services for FY 2010. Priority 2 services are internal connections and basic maintenance of internal connections and are supported with available funds after priority 1 services (telecommunications and Internet access services) are supported. The Order also announces that $850 million in reserved E-Rate funds will be carried forward to increase support commitments for FY 2011.
E-Rate Rules Amended Regarding Policies on Online Behavior and Cyberbullying
Posted on August 15, 2011The FCC has adopted an order adding language from the 2008 Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act to current FCC rules implementing the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) for the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism, also known as the E-Rate program. The new rule language directs E-Rate applicants to certify that their CIPA-required Internet safety policies provide for the education of students regarding appropriate online behavior including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms, and regarding cyberbullying awareness and response.
FCC Announces E-Rate Cap for Funding Year 2011
Posted on August 8, 2011The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau has announced that the schools and libraries universal service support program (E-Rate program) funding for year 2011 will be capped at $2,290,682,250. FCC rules require the $2.25 billion cap on E-Rate funding to be automatically increased annually to take into account increases in the rate of inflation. The 2011 cap represents a 0.9% inflation-adjusted increase from funding year 2010’s $2,270,250,000 cap. The 2011 funding year runs from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012.