eRate Archives

5 strategies to tackle the homework gap

January 21, 2020November 5, 2019 by Laura Ascione

The homework gap is a troubling barrier to digital equity, but some school districts are leaders in addressing the dilemma.

Despite a brighter spotlight on digital equity, gaps still remain, including the troubling and persistent homework gap--but a newly-relaunched digital equity toolkit aims to highlight the important work…

District Management

Top 5 IT and technology trends for 2016

March 4, 2016December 16, 2015 by Bridget McCrea

Libraries, connectivity, and more are big issues for IT professionals Chief technology officers and IT professionals in the K-12 field ... Read more

Featured on eSchool News

Can self-provisioning your internet save you money?

February 11, 2015 by By Bridget McCrea

In Evan Marwell’s estimation, anywhere from 10 to 15 percent of the nation’s K-12 school districts have self-provisioned their own fiber networks. In most cases, this CEO of…

District Management

FCC’s plan to reclassify internet has big K-12 impact

February 10, 2015 by By Bridget McCrea

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is proposing clear, sustainable, enforceable rules to preserve and protect the open Internet as a place for innovation and free expression. According to an…

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

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

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

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

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…

IT Management

Why aren’t teachers using more technology in the classroom?

November 5, 2013July 31, 2013 by Staff and wire services reports

With all the buzz in the news about education technology, one would think that teachers were integrating cutting-edge teaching tools into their lesson plans faster than edtech startups…

District Management

Your annual ‘eRate Survival Guide’

November 12, 2012November 2, 2012 by ESchool News Staff

Over the years, the eRate has undergone many rule changes to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse—and the application process can be confusing. To help you navigate this process…

District Management

Dispelling 10 common eRate myths

October 1, 2013November 2, 2012 by By Laura Devaney, Managing Editor

Each fall, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)—the agency that administers the $2.3 billion-a-year eRate—holds a number of training sessions designed to help applicants wade through the rules…

District Management

How applicants would change the eRate, if they could

November 12, 2012November 2, 2012 by By Brian Stephens

Sensing that demand for eRate funding would continue to outpace available funding nearly 2 to 1, last spring Funds For Learning set out to gather the perceptions, predictions,…

District Management

Petition calls for more eRate funding

November 12, 2012December 20, 2011 by From staff and wire reports

The federal eRate program, which helps schools and libraries connect to the internet, should receive more funding so that more schools and libraries can serve not only students,…

Featured Funding News

Deadline for 2012 eRate applications announced

November 23, 2011 by From staff and wire reports

The Universal Service Administrative Co., which runs the federal eRate program, has announced the opening and closing dates of the eRate filing window for Funding Year 2012.

District Management

eRate applicants face important changes with this year’s program

November 7, 2011November 3, 2011 by By Laura Devaney, Managing Editor

As schools get ready to apply for federal eRate discounts for the 2012 funding year, applicants and service providers will notice some new changes to the nearly $2.3…

District Management

How to make sense of the new eRate gift rules

December 3, 2013November 3, 2011 by By Nick Shipley

In its Sixth Report and Order, issued in September 2010, the FCC codified regulations regarding gifts from eRate service providers to align with the gift rules applicable to…

Teaching Trends

Five tips for eRate success

October 1, 2013November 3, 2011 by By Cara Erenben, Contributing Editor

With a new eRate application season about to dawn for schools and libraries, here are five tips that can help ensure success in getting your fair share of…

District Management

FCC opens access to social media sites for e-Rate users

February 1, 2012September 26, 2011 by By Nora Carr, APR, Fellow PRSA

Now that even the staid Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has loosened its tight rein on social media networks, it’s time for more educators to use these tools to…

Featured Funding News

Universal Service reform: What it means for schools

September 1, 2011August 30, 2011 by By Cynthia Schultz, Contributing Editor

Changes to the government's Universal Service programs will result in new broadband options for schools—but they'll also create new compliance challenges as the web of federal programs supporting…

Teaching Trends

FCC ruling brings e-Rate funding to more applicants

August 28, 2011 by From staff reports

Several hundred more e-Rate applicants will get funding for the wiring, routers, switches, servers, and other equipment needed to bring high-speed internet access into classrooms, thanks to a…

District Management

HP agrees to $16M settlement in e-Rate fraud case

November 11, 2010 by From staff and wire reports

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached a civil settlement with Hewlett-Packard Co. for alleged e-Rate fraud, following an extensive investigation by the DOJ and the Federal…

District Management

Your guide to securing 2011 e-Rate dollars

October 20, 2010October 18, 2010 by From staff and wire reports

Over the years, the federal e-Rate has undergone minor tweaks to prevent waste and bring more value to applicants. This year, however, marks the biggest set of changes…

District Management

What you should know about the 2011 e-Rate program

November 6, 2013October 18, 2010 by By Nicholas Shipley

To fully leverage 2011 e-Rate funding in boosting broadband access, it’s important to understand the latest changes to the program (and there are many)—but don’t overlook the things…

District Management

e-Rate administrator: New rules should help fund more applicants

February 2, 2011October 15, 2010 by By Laura Devaney, Managing Editor

The head of the agency that administers the federal e-Rate program had strong words of support for new FCC rules that he said would further streamline the program…

District Management

New Jersey businessmen sentenced to jail for e-Rate fraud

February 8, 2010 by Staff and wire services reports

The former co-owners of a New Jersey computer services provider each have been sentenced to 27 months in prison on charges of conspiracy to defraud the federal e-Rate…

5 strategies to tackle the homework gap

eRate changes aim to cut costs, boost efficiency

New discount method could help—or hurt—eRate applicants

School eMail, Websites Hit by eRate Changes

How to avoid eRate rule violations

eRate changes prompt new voice options for schools

Top ed-tech stories to watch: eRate gets a facelift

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

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

FCC takes key step toward modernizing eRate

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

CEOs join forces to support eRate modernization

How to prepare for eRate funding year 2014

Why I love eRate: A technology director’s viewpoint

Experts: eRate changes certain, but details unknown

Why aren’t teachers using more technology in the classroom?

Your annual ‘eRate Survival Guide’

Dispelling 10 common eRate myths

How applicants would change the eRate, if they could

Petition calls for more eRate funding

Deadline for 2012 eRate applications announced

eRate applicants face important changes with this year’s program

How to make sense of the new eRate gift rules

Five tips for eRate success

Universal Service reform: What it means for schools

FCC ruling brings e-Rate funding to more applicants

HP agrees to $16M settlement in e-Rate fraud case

Your guide to securing 2011 e-Rate dollars

What you should know about the 2011 e-Rate program

e-Rate administrator: New rules should help fund more applicants

New Jersey businessmen sentenced to jail for e-Rate fraud

With AI coaching, a math platform helps students tackle tough concepts

Counslr Launches in Texas to Increase Access to Mental Health Support for Staff and Students

Ignite Reading Again Approved as 1:1 High-Dosage Early Literacy Tutoring Provider in Massachusetts

aiEDU and The Rithm Project Partner to Infuse Human Connection into AI Literacy Through High School ELA Curriculum

Catapult Learning is Approved to Provide High-Dosage Tutoring in Massachusetts Elementary and Secondary Schools

Birmingham City Schools Leads Groundbreaking Research on Student Motivation and Math Achievement

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