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FCC Releases Wireless Pilot Project Details and Application Process
Message Posted November 10, 2010

Summary:
In September the FCC released the 6th Report and Order that outlined several changes to the E-rate program. One component of the Order was a new competitive pilot program -- called EDU2011 -- that will provide up to $10 million to a small number of schools and libraries to provide wireless off-premises connectivity for mobile learning devices in exchange for helping the Commission determine whether and how those services should be made eligible for future E-rate support. The details of this pilot have just been announced and the requirements state that funding will be awarded to applicants already implementing such programs, and that applications must be submitted to the FCC by December 17, 2010. So if your school or library is already engaged in an existing off-campus student wireless program and would like E-rate funding for the Internet access component, please consider applying (and please let me know if you do).

Application Details from FCC Public Notice:

As part of this pilot program, the Commission authorized up to $10 million for funding year 2011 to support a small number of innovative, interactive off-premise wireless connectivity projects for schools and libraries. The Commission anticipates that EDU2011 funding will be provided only to wireless projects that have already been planned (but may be awaiting funding) or are currently underway, to enable the Commission to evaluate how best to use E-rate support for successful wireless projects. Support under this program will not be provided for the portable devices or equipment, but rather for the connectivity services.

To be considered for the EDU2011 funding, applicants must address the application requirements listed below and submit their applications to the Commission on or before December 17, 2010. Applications that do not address all the requirements or are filed after the deadline date will not be considered for the EDU2011 funding.

EDU2011 Application Requirements:

Applicant Wireless Program. On the date the Sixth Report and Order was adopted (September 23, 2010), eligible applicants already should have implemented or begun the process of implementing a program to provide off-premise connectivity to students or library patrons through the use of portable wireless devices.

Application Length.

Applications shall be no longer than 20 pages including any exhibits. Any relevant technology planning documents (see number 8, below), however, do not count toward the 20 page limit. The Commission will not review any application that is greater than 20 pages in length.

Required Information (all applicants).

The application must contain the following information for all applicants:

1) a full description of the current or planned Applicant Wireless Program, including but not limited to:

a) the nature of the Applicant Wireless Program, including the extent to which the use of connectivity is interactive and utilizes the Internet,

b) how long the Applicant Wireless Program has been in operation and the mobile wireless device(s) being used,

c) a description of any technical issues associated with implementing the Applicant Wireless Program, including an analysis of any problems with the availability of wireless access to students or patrons off the school or library premises and how those issues are being or will be addressed by the school or library,

d) what training has been or will be provided to teachers, librarians, students or parents to implement the Applicant Wireless Program, and

e) the extent to which the Applicant Wireless Program is integrated with federal, Tribal, state, regional or local governmental or non-profit initiatives to achieve educational or community access outcomes;

2) the poverty level based on the percentage of students eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the national school lunch program (NSLP) or a federally approved alternative mechanism, and the current discount rate of the school or library;

3) the financial need of the school or library, including any additional budgetary hardships, notwithstanding the school or library’s current discount rate;

4) all costs, including those eligible for E-rate support and those not eligible for E-rate support, associated with implementing the Applicant Wireless Program, including but not limited to costs for equipment such as e-readers or laptops, access and connection charges, teacher training, librarian training, or student/parent training;

5) the committed school or library resources available to implement the entire Applicant Wireless Program, including whether those funds are from the school or library’s general budget or from an outside funding source;

6) the effect EDU2011 support for off-premise connectivity is likely to have upon the school’s or library’s projects;

7) an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the current or planned Applicant Wireless Program as compared to the use of other types of technology that would also meet the Program’s objectives;

8) any relevant technology planning documents and, if applicable, a statement of long-term objectives for the Program;

9) a description of the specific measures taken, or that will be taken, to ensure compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act and measures to protect against waste, fraud, and abuse; and

10) a description of internal policies and enforcement procedures governing acceptable use of the wireless devices used in the Program off the school or library’s premises.

Required Information (schools only).

The applications filed by schools also must contain the following information:

1) the location of the school;

2) the name of the school applicant, along with a complete list of the individual schools that will be served, including their billed entity numbers;

3) a description of the school district or school, including the type of school, such as private, public, charter, or other special type of school;

4) a description of the Program’s curriculum objectives, the grade levels included, and the number of students and teachers involved and/or being served as part of the program; and

5) a summary of any data collected by the school on Program outcomes and achievement of Program objectives.

Applicants must also apply for E-rate funding by following the regular E-rate program rules. Specifically, in addition to the information requested above, eligible schools and libraries must submit an FCC Form 471 application to USAC during the regular application window. We direct applicants to file an FCC Form 471 application specifically for the wireless connectivity services to be used off-premises as part of the program for which the applicant is seeking funding and file a separate FCC Form 471 for any services to be used on premises. Applicants should type “EDU2011” in the form identifier field of the FCC Form 471 application for the wireless connectivity services to be used off-premises. Applicants should also list all of the schools and/or libraries that will be receiving the off-site wireless connectivity services in Block 4 of the FCC Form 471 application. Because potential applicants will most likely already be using portable wireless devices in their school or library, applicants may have an established relationship with a service provider. Therefore, the Commission has waived, to the extent necessary, the applicable sections of the Commission’s E-rate competitive bidding rules for those EDU2011 pilot program applicants that have already entered into legally binding agreements with service providers for off-premises connectivity for portable wireless devices. The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) will notify applicants and USAC when it has selected applicants to participate in the EDU2011 program. Selected applicants will receive the allotted connectivity support and will not be required to cost-allocate the dollar amount of support for the time that portable devices are not on school or library premises. Applicants will receive funds sufficient to cover the amount of connectivity expenses eligible for E-rate funding based on their discount; they will still be required to pay their non-discount share. After the one-year trial period, participants will be required to submit a report to the Bureau describing in detail any data collected as a result of the program and a narrative describing lessons learned from the program, which may assist other schools and libraries desiring to adopt similar programs in the future.

EDU2011 Application Filing Procedures:

All applications submitted as part of the EDU2011 pilot program must refer to WC Docket No. 10-222.

· Electronic Filers: Applications may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/.

· Paper Filers: Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.

· All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th St., SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building.

· Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.

· U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington DC 20554.


Eligible schools and libraries may also send a courtesy copy of their filing via email to EDU2011pilot@fcc.gov or by mail to Regina Brown, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 5-A360, Washington, D.C. 20554 or Rebekah Bina, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 5-B521, Washington, D.C. 20554.

For further information, please contact Regina Brown or Rebekah Bina, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418-7400 or TTY (202) 418-0484.

-Julie

717-730-7133 - o
717-730-9060 - f
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org
Penn*link

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