FCC Announces 12 Major E-rate Changes
Message Posted September 24, 2010
Yesterday the FCC Commissioners adopted several major changes to the E-rate program, a direct result of their recent request for public comments and recommendations from the National Broadband Plan released March 2010. The official Order containing the details of each issue has not yet been released, so we only know the highlights at this time. After the Order has been released and questions have been answered by FCC staff, I will send more information. Here are the highlights as we understand them from the FCC's press release and the remarks given at yesterday's meeting:
1) Allow applicants to lease fiber from any provider (not just telecommunications carriers), including non-profit and government agencies, utility companies, etc. as long as it is the most cost effective solution.
2) Allow applicants to purchase unlit existing fiber.
3) Make permanent the rule that allows the community to use E-rate eligible services outside hours at the school.
4) Permit E-rate eligible services to be provided to dormitory locations that serve unique populations such as students with physical, cognitive or behavioral disabilities.
5) Permit the creation of "school spots" where schools could provide Internet access to the community after school hours (originally suggested by two PA applicants!).
6) Create a limited, competitive, pilot program that will provide funding for off-campus wireless connectivity through mobile devices.
7) Increase the E-rate funding cap to annual inflation (it is currently capped at $2.25 billion).
8) Eliminate the E-rate tech plan requirement for Priority 1 services. (It is not yet known if they are just eliminating the approval requirement or the entire requirement. It also isn't known yet what requirements PDE will continue to require.)
9) Make efforts to streamline the Form 470 and 471 applications (continue to use existing forms until the new forms are adopted).
10) Codify the requirement that an open and fair bidding process be conducted.
11) Align the E-rate rules pertaining to vendor gifts to those used by federal agencies.
12) Adopt eligible services list for 2011
-- reinstates dark fiber to the list
-- maintains webhosting as eligible service
I'll be in touch as I learn more!
-Julie
717-730-7133 - o
717-730-9060 - f
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org
Penn*link
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