E-Rate Archives

Report: Schools expect faster internet within 3 years

October 27, 2016 by Laura Devaney, Director of News, <a href='https://twitter.com/esn_laura' target='_blank'>@eSN_Laura</a>

Seventy-two percent of E-rate applicants participating in a recent survey said wi-fi is critical to fulfilling their organization's mission. Twenty years after the Telecommunications Act of 1996 created…

District Management

FCC to fine AT&T for overcharging Fla. districts

August 4, 2016 by By Laura Devaney, Director of News, <a href='https://twitter.com/esn_laura' target='_blank'>@eSN_Laura</a>

AT&T charged two Florida school districts some of the highest telecommunications rates in the state and will face a fine for violating federal law and the Federal Communications…

District Management

Digital divide hits small towns hard

May 10, 2016 by Damien Willis, Las Cruces Sun-News

This article is no longer available.

District Management

E-rate funding toolkit aims to make applying easier

October 27, 2015 by By Laura Devaney, Director of News, <a href='https://twitter.com/esn_laura' target='_blank'>@eSN_Laura</a>

A new E-rate funding toolkit from Common Sense and SETDA explains the changes to the federal program, available funding, and best ways to apply for it. Common Sense…

District Management

FCC approves $1.5B E-rate increase

December 26, 2014December 11, 2014 by By Laura Devaney, Director of News, <a href='https://twitter.com/esn_laura' target='_blank'>@eSN_Laura</a>

The Federal Communications Commission on Dec. 11 voted to increase funding to the federal E-rate program by $1.5 billion. The additional funding comes from a consumer telephone bill…

District Management

FCC proposes $1.5B E-rate increase

November 17, 2014 by Laura Ascione

The federal E-rate program could see a $1.5 billion increase if the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approves a proposal set forth by FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler on Nov.…

District Management

Overcoming the top barrier to school connectivity

May 3, 2015October 21, 2014 by By Laura Devaney, Managing Editor, <a href='https://twitter.com/esn_laura' target='_blank'>@eSN_Laura</a>

Funding remains the largest and most-cited obstacle when it comes to updating schools' infrastructure and installing high-speed broadband internet access, according to a survey from the Consortium for…

District Management

eRate changes aim to cut costs, boost efficiency

September 19, 2014September 16, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Special Projects Editor, eSchool News

Starting next year, eRate applicants will be able to see how much other schools are paying for similar kinds of services, under one of many changes designed to…

District Management

New discount method could help—or hurt—eRate applicants

December 26, 2014September 10, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Special Projects Editor, eSchool News

The FCC’s new eRate rules include important changes in how school districts must calculate their discount percentage. Some districts stand to benefit from these changes, while others could…

District Management

School eMail, Websites Hit by eRate Changes

May 11, 2019September 5, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Special Projects Editor, eSchool News

Beginning with the 2015 funding year, eMail, voice mail, and website hosting no longer will be eligible for eRate support. What will this change mean for schools?

District Management

How to avoid eRate rule violations

December 26, 2014September 2, 2014 by By Steve Rosen and Colleen Boothby

The FCC is investing millions of dollars to remove eRate waste, fraud, and abuse. Here's how to make sure you're not caught in its net.

District Management

eRate changes prompt new voice options for schools

September 4, 2014August 26, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Special Projects Editor, eSchool News

If the FCC has its way, the eRate no longer will support voice services within the next five years, including plain old telephone service, toll-free service, and even…

District Management

New eRate rules invite a new approach: Managed Wi-Fi

August 26, 2014August 19, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Special Projects Editor, eSchool News

The FCC’s extensive eRate overhaul includes a new type of eligible service, managed Wi-Fi, which could lead to more outsourced networks in K-12 schools.

District Management

A $5 billion bounty: How to use eRate support for Wi-Fi

August 12, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Special Projects Editor, eSchool News

The FCC’s new eRate rules set aside $5 billion over the next five years for the equipment needed to extend broadband access within schools and libraries, including wireless…

District Management

FCC takes key step toward modernizing eRate

July 11, 2014 by By Dennis Pierce, Editorial Director, <a href='https://twitter.com/eSN_Dennis' target='_blank'>@eSN_Dennis</a>

In a split decision along party lines, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to move ahead with a plan to modernize the eRate by increasing the amount…

District Management

2 ways to support eRate modernization

May 19, 2014 by By Dan Domenech

Last month, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) closed its comment period for its most recent Public Notice, soliciting responses for proposed changes to the eRate program. As a…

District Management

Digital divide, lack of certified librarians ‘a national crisis’

May 12, 2014May 8, 2014 by By Jake New, Editor, <a href='https://twitter.com/ecn_jake' target='_blank'>@eCN_Jake</a>

Washington, D.C. -- Barbara Stripling, president of the American Library Association, said students, teachers, and librarians are facing "a silent dilemma." Imagine, she said, you're one of two…

District Management

The real problem with school internet

February 21, 2014 by By Meris Stansbury, Associate Editor, <a href='https://twitter.com/esn_meris' target='_blank'>@eSN_Meris</a>

For schools across the country, mobile device management and online testing concerns start at the basic level: ‘how do we get the internet and infrastructure needed?’ As it…

District Management

BREAKING NEWS: 3 immediate ways the eRate is improving for schools

February 5, 2014February 5, 2014 by By Meris Stansbury, Associate Editor, <a href='https://twitter.com/esn_meris' target='_blank'>@eSN_Meris</a>

In what could be one of the most heartening examples of putting money where a mouth is, FCC chairman, Tom Wheeler, just announced that the E-Rate will change…

District Management

FCC moves to double broadband funds

February 3, 2014February 3, 2014 by By Laura Devaney, Managing Editor, <a href='https://twitter.com/esn_laura' target='_blank'>@eSN_Laura</a>

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler is expected to announce on Wednesday a move to double broadband funding to schools and libraries. The $1 billion increase comes…

District Management

CEOs join forces to support eRate modernization

January 31, 2014January 30, 2014 by From staff and wire reports

A group of 50 executives, innovators, and entrepreneurs joined the nonprofit organization EducationSuperHighway on Jan. 30 to urge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to modernize the federal eRate…

District Management

eRate process begins for 2014

January 16, 2014January 16, 2014 by From staff reports

The filing window for getting 2014 eRate discounts on telecommunications services and internet access is now open, and schools and libraries have until Wednesday, March 26, to apply.…

District Management

How to prepare for eRate funding year 2014

January 16, 2014December 10, 2013 by By John Harrington

Here are several strategies to help you get the most out of the new eRate funding year.

District Management

Smart education networks: An action plan for leaders

November 28, 2013 by By Keith R. Krueger

In my September column, “Time to ask for more eRate funding,” I discussed how this is a historic moment. The eRate program is the largest and most important…

District Management

Ed-tech groups mull new FCC chief’s priorities

November 12, 2013November 11, 2013 by By Laura Devaney, Managing Editor, <a href='https://twitter.com/esn_laura' target='_blank'>@eSN_Laura</a>

Ed-tech advocacy groups reacted to the confirmation of Tom Wheeler as Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman, noting that the official move positions the agency to better act on…

District Management

eRate survey highlights broadband needs

October 29, 2013 by By Laura Devaney, Managing Editor, <a href='https://twitter.com/esn_laura' target='_blank'>@eSN_Laura</a>

Nearly one-third of school districts (29 percent) did not apply for federal eRate assistance because they assumed the program would have insufficient funds for their needs, according to…

District Management

Why I love eRate: A technology director’s viewpoint

October 14, 2013 by Staff and wire services reports

During my career at four mid-sized school districts over the last 18 years, finding multiple ways to fund ever-changing technology needs was critical to my success, according to…

District Management

Experts: eRate changes certain, but details unknown

October 17, 2013October 14, 2013 by By Laura Devaney, Managing Editor, <a href='https://twitter.com/esn_laura' target='_blank'>@eSN_Laura</a>

In the midst of a federal government shutdown, strained school budgets, and calls for education reform are potentially wide-reaching changes to the eRate—the federal $2.25-billion-a-year program that makes…

District Management

Shutdown’s impact on ed programs uncertain

October 2, 2013 by By Laura Devaney, Managing Editor, <a href='https://twitter.com/esn_laura' target='_blank'>@eSN_Laura</a>

As Congress failed to reach a budget agreement on Sept. 30, triggering a federal government shutdown, education leaders and ed-tech stakeholders wondered how long, and to what extent,…

District Management

eRate changes spur debate

October 1, 2013September 23, 2013 by By Laura Devaney, Managing Editor, <a href='https://twitter.com/esn_laura' target='_blank'>@eSN_Laura</a>

Stakeholders weigh in on eRate program’s future Hundreds of eRate stakeholders made final efforts to show how critical high-speed broadband ... Read more

District Management

e-Rate advocates: More funding for internet connections

September 19, 2013September 16, 2013 by By Laura Devaney, Managing Editor, <a href='https://twitter.com/esn_laura' target='_blank'>@eSN_Laura</a>

As the deadline to submit comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on ways to improve the federal eRate program wrapped up on Sept. 16, ed-tech advocacy groups…

District Management

Interstates and E-rates

September 11, 2013 by Staff and wire services reports

The Labor Day weekend is fast disappearing in my memory's rear view window, but the traffic experience of a three-mile stretch of barely moving vehicles on I-95 is…

District Management

Time to ask for more eRate funding

November 22, 2013September 2, 2013 by By Keith Krueger

If educators contact the FCC in large numbers, we might be able to more than double the annual funding available for the eRate.

District Management

Five education trends for the new school year

August 26, 2013August 23, 2013 by By Meris Stansbury, Associate Editor

education-trendsTrends in education are always appearing, such as iPads and online testing (and remember virtual reality classrooms?), but with recent developments in national standards and a new federal…

District Management

Ed-tech stakeholders advocate for boost in eRate cap

January 16, 2014August 13, 2013 by By Laura Devaney, Managing Editor, <a href='https://twitter.com/esn_laura' target='_blank'>@eSN_Laura</a>

Inadequate internet connectivity is more than an inconvenience to teachers and students—it has the capacity to limit the educational and ... Read more

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