February 7, 2014<\/p>\n
This afternoon the Schools and Libraries Committee of USAC voted to recommend to the FCC that Priority 2 requests (internal connections and basic maintenance of internal connections) at the 90% discount level be denied due to lack of funding. USAC had previously recommended to the FCC that P2 requests at the 89% discount level and below be denied, but the FCC never took action on that recommendation.<\/p>\n
The FCC is expected to approve the USAC recommendation.<\/p>\n
The demand for FY 2013 Priority 2 requests at the 90% level totaled $1.760 billion. After all Priority 1 requests are funded, there was only $250 million available to fund Priority 2.<\/p>\n
Note: I do not believe that the FY 2013 P2 situation is an acknowledgement that Priority 2 funding will never be available again. To the contrary, I believe the reforms announced by the FCC this week (and that will be announced in the Public Notice that’s due to be released in a few weeks) will contain reforms aimed at ensuring more funding will be available for broadband equipment for all schools and libraries.<\/p>\n
Please let me know if you have any questions.<\/p>\n
— Julie<\/p>\n
Julie Tritt Schell
\nPA E-rate Coordinator<\/p>\n
717-730-7133 – o<\/span>
\n717-730-9060 – f<\/span>
\njtschell@comcast.net<\/span><\/span><\/a>
\nwww.e-ratepa.org<\/span>
\nPenn*link<\/span><\/p>\n\n