ISTE strongly supports E-Rate, a U.S. government program that enables schools and libraries to purchase telecommunications and Internet service at a discounted rate. More than 90% of the nation’s classrooms have Internet connectivity as a result of E-Rate.

A recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruling changes the E-Rate program in several ways. ISTE has been advocating for some of the revisions, but others raise concerns.

ISTE issued a statement about the ruling as part of the Education and Library Networks
Coalition, an organization in which ISTE
plays a leadership role. The statement reads:

EdLiNC wholeheartedly supports many
of the changes that today’s order adopts,
including rule changes to streamline the
E-Rate application process and to make leased dark fiber eligible for discount, but
we remain extremely concerned that the Commission has yet to adequately address the biggest problem facing the program:
lack of funding.

The FCC ruling adjusts E-Rate’s funding cap annually in accordance with inflation. The government caps funding for the program at $2.25 billion and has for a decade. Although this is a significant amount, data show that the demand for the program far exceeds the cap. The FCC’s ruling to adjust the cap based on inflation is a step in the right direction, but funding is still
far below the demand and need.

The ruling will also:

• Allow the leasing of fiber optics as an eligible Priority 1 service (Internet access) and allow applicants to lease dark or lit fiber optics from the most cost-effective provider, including but not limited to telecommunications carriers and others, such as research education networks; regional, state, and local government entities or networks; nonprofit and for-profit providers; and utility companies. This change provides more options and flexibility for schools and may lower their costs.

• Make permanent a waiver that lets schools
allow community members to use E-Rate
services outside of school hours.

• Create an off-campus wireless connectivity pilot program to “investigate the merits and challenges of wireless off-premises connectivity services and to help us determine whether they should ultimately be eligible for E-Rate support.” Although ISTE wholeheartedly supports school-to-home connectivity, there are concerns about creating new programs and new eligible services under the E-Rate program without significant investment of additional funding to pay for them.

• Streamline the application process. The ruling removes the technology-plan requirement for Priority 1 services. However, applicants who request Priority 2 funding (for internal connections and basic maintenance) must still complete a technology plan.

To learn more about E-Rate, visit www.fcc.gov/learnnet or www.edlinc.org.

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