E-rate Reform Order Released
July 27, 2014
On July 23, the FCC released the much-anticipated E-rate Reform Order, detailing how the program will be modernized to provide all applicants the opportunity to receive E-rate funding for internal connections beginning in Funding Year 2015. Attached is a detailed analysis of the 162+ page Order, as well as the Order itself, and I strongly encourage you to read the summary in its entirety. I tried to be as concise as possible, while not leaving out important details. There are bound to be some minor changes to this document as the FCC and USAC staff begin to clarify certain items and I will provide you with those updates/clarifications if and when they are received.
Highlights:
- Webhosting, e-mail and paging service will no longer be eligible beginning in FY 2015.
- All voice services, including cellular service, will be phased out beginning in FY 2015 by reducing the applicant’s shared discount by 20% each year.
- Districts will now use a district-wide discount based on total district enrollment and total NSLP eligibility.
- 2010 Census data will now be used to determine Rural/Urban classifications.
- Commercially available 100+ mbps Internet packages costing less than $3600/year will no longer have to be competitively bid.
- The 90% discount band for Priority 2 requests will now be 85%. All other discounts will remain the same.
- P2 equipment eligibility is solely based on internal broadband functionality and Wi-Fi — no voice or video equipment is eligible.
- Each school building will qualify for a $150 per pupil budget (or minimum of $9200) over 5 years for P2 purchases.
- Each library building will qualify for a $2.30 per square foot budget (or minimum of $9200) over 5 years for P2 purchases.
- The technology plan requirement has been repealed entirely.
- A 1-time invoice (BEAR or SPI) extension will be granted but only if submitted by invoice deadline.
Training:
I have scheduled two additional (identical) webinars to provide PA school, library and IU applicants with detailed information about the changes. Because of the limited number of available seats, these two webinars are reserved for PA school and library applicant attendance only. They are as follows:
Monday, August 4 from 1:00 – 3:30.
Monday, August 11 from 1:00 – 3:30.
There is no pre-registration required but attendees are required to list their name and school/library upon entering the webinar. These webinars will be archived for later viewing and there will be follow-up webinars on specific topics in the coming months. Please note: I will be out of the office attending E-rate meetings most of this week, so I ask that you hold your questions until viewing one of the webinars as I will not be in the office to answer questions, and I suspect your questions will be answered in the webinar.
In addition, several other webinars (listed below) have been scheduled by various organizations at which I will be presenting. Additional details and registration information will be forthcoming about those webinars if registration is required.
| Training Class Audience | Date | Sponsor | Fee | Registration |
| All PA School and Libraries | August 4, 2014
1 – 3:30 p.m. |
PDE | Free | No pre-registration required but attendees are required to list their name and school or library upon entering webinar. |
| All PA School and Libraries | August 11, 2014
1 – 3:30 p.m. |
PDE | Free | No pre-registration required but attendees are required to list their name and school or library upon entering webinar. |
| PA Intermediate Units | August 5, 2014
1 – 3:00 p.m. |
PDE | Free | No pre-registration required but attendees are required to list their name and IU upon entering webinar. |
| Service Providers | August 13, 2014
9 – 11:00 a.m. |
PAIU | $150 | https://paiu.org/erate_registration.php |
| PA Libraries | August 27, 2014
1 – 3:30 p.m. |
PDE | Free | No pre-registration required but attendees are required to list their name and library upon entering webinar. |
| PA School Board Members | August 27, 2014
7 – 9 p.m. |
PSBA | $99 | http://www.psba.org/workshops/web-conference/ |
| PA School Business Officials | September 4, 2014
9:30 – 11:15 a.m. |
PASBO | PASBO Member $75/Non-member $115 | http://www.pasbo.org/workshops |
Julie Tritt Schell
PA E-rate Coordinator
717-730-7133 – o
717-730-9060 – f
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org
penn*link