Happy Holidays and some E-rate News!
Message Posted December 21, 2000
I would just like to take this opportunity to wish the 1100+ members of the
Pennsylvania E-rate listserve a very happy holiday season. Although I've
never met some of you in person, I feel like I know each and every one of
you "E-rate Gurus" through your e-mails and calls.
I also would like to take a second and give you a brief wrap up of where we
are with E-rate:
Year 2 Out of the Window Requests: In PIA review. Funding Commitment
Letters expected in January and February. My prediction? Most requests
will be funded!
Year 3 Appeals: Only 12 decisions made so far. Many more will come in
January.
Year 4 Applications: Last day to submit 470 truly is tomorrow (Dec. 22) --
that is exactly 28 days from Jan. 18. Hope you didn't wait that long to
file! Form 471 due Jan. 18 -- please beat the rush and file early.
Filtering legislation: Passed Congress last week, but won't go into effect
for many, many months (certainly not for Year 4). We'll give you all the
details after the holidays. My prediction? Filtering software will NOT
become E-rate eligible (Congress didn't want it). My advice? Don't be
swindled by vendors saying that you have to buy software NOW or that their
product is "approved."
SPIN Change Rules: New, very liberal rules were just adopted by FCC (did
you read my previous e-mail?). If you need changes for Year 2, have your
request received by Jan. 31, 2001!!!
Again, all the best to you E-rate guru's and your families.
-- Julie
(p.s. -- yes, I got married in May, thus the name change below... Thanks to
everyone who has noticed during the last 6 months!)
Julie Tritt Schell
Executive Policy Specialist
Pennsylvania Department of Education
333 Market Street, 10th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126
(717) 705-4486
(717) 787-7222 - fax
jtritt@state.pa.us
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