E-rate Update - FCC Adopts New E-rate Rules
Message Posted January 5, 1998
On December 31, the FCC released its 4th Order on Reconsideration, clarifying and making several substantive changes to its original Order that created the Universal Service discount program for schools and libraries, commonly referred to as E-rate. The newly released rules are about 150 pages in length and can be read in their entirety at [www.fcc.gov]. A link to the Order will be on the PA E-rate website shortly. We are attempting to draft a summary of the Order and will forward it to you in the next few days. In the meantime, I encourage you to download and read the Order for yourself, as it deals with the issues of wide area networks and the existing contracts/blackhole problem to name a few.
These changes will be discussed in detail at the PDE E-rate conference on Friday, January 9th. Be sure you are registered to attend this important event. Attendance is strongly encouraged for all public and nonpublic school technology coordinators and business managers, as well as library officials. Details of the conference and on-line registration can be found at the PDE E-rate website [www.cas.psu.edu/usf/index.html].
As you know, the conference will be broken into two sessions. The morning session, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., will be geared to school and library officials who are just learning about the E-rate program and would like an overview and background of the program. On-site registration for the morning session will begin at 9:00 a.m.
The afternoon session, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., will focus on completing the FCC Forms 470 and 471, answering questions, and providing clarifications on eligible and ineligible services. Debra Kriete, Chief Counsel to the Schools and Libraries Corporation, will be participating during the afternoon of the conference. Lunch will be on your own.
On-site registration for the afternoon session will begin at noon.
There is no fee for the event, but participants should complete the online registration form no later than Wednesday, January 7. In addition, participants are encouraged to attempt to complete the application forms prior to attending the conference and to come prepared with questions.
Finally, students at the West Branch Area School District will be using the latest technology to "webcast" the conference. Webcasting is the broadcast of live or on-demand audio and video over the Internet. The webcast can be viewed either live on Friday at [www.westbranch.org] or the PA E-rate homepage or through an archived version that will be available at both sites. Viewers will simply have to download the free realplayer software prior to viewing the webcast.
And the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) has been invited to tape the conference for a future presentation on their station. PCN may not be available in several areas of the state.
-- John Bailey & Julie Tritt
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John P. Bailey
Director 717-787-5820
Office of Educational Technology 717-787-7222 (fax)
Pennsylvania Department of Education assist@microserve.net
333 Market Street www.cas.psu.edu/pde.html
Harrisburg, PA 17101
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