A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

On May 7, 1997, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued its unanimous ruling on Universal Service. For the first time, schools and public libraries will be eligible for Universal Service support, this is referred to as the E-Rate (education rate). The E-Rate makes K-12 schools (public schools and non-profit private schools with endowments of less than $50 million) and public libraries eligible to receive up to $2.25 billion per year in discounts for a wide range of telecommunication services.

The Universal Service Fund for schools and libraries covers commercially available telecommunication services (such as voice and data service), internal connections that are necessary for bringing the technology into each classroom, and Internet access.

Discounts range from 20-90 percent and are based on geographic location and economic disadvantage. The average discount is about 60 percent. These discounts will help prepare students and all citizens for the Information Age by connecting them to the vast learning resources available on the Internet.

The Universal Service Fund for schools and libraries becomes available and will begin reimbursing providers for services rendered on January 1, 1998. The Fund Administrator will be in place shortly.

Once the Fund Administrator is in place and the implementation process is finalized, eligible institutions will need to submit to the Fund Administrator: 1) a self-certification of eligibility, including need-based eligibility, 2) a technology plan approved by an independent agency (such as your state education or library agency), and 3) a description of the services sought.

Before the actual application process begins, the following needs to happen:

• Working Out the Details: As requested by the FCC, the U.S. Department of Education in partnership with a broad-based coalition of education groups, is advising the FCC on the design of applications, review and approval process, aggregation of demand for services, and the selection of an auditor.

• Define the Duties of the Fund Administrator. The National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) has been selected as the interim Fund Administrator by the FCC. The Fund Administrator will be responsible for receiving and processing applications, collecting the funds and reimbursing service providers for services rendered. The FCC will provide a written order further detailing the Administrator's duties.

• State Endorsements of the Discounts for Intrastate Services. Every State Public Utility Commission will need to take action so that schools and libraries in their state can receive E-Rate discounts. Specifically, State Public Utility Commissions need to set in place a discount formula for intrastate services that matchesor exceeds the 20-90 percent discounts set by the FCC.

Although the Fund will not be operational until January, 1998, now is the time to get ready. Schools and libraries should develop long term plans for implementing technology, if they have not done so already.

Specifically, school districts should begin to take stock of where they are, conducting an inventory of available technology, resources for teachers, and reviewing efforts currently underway.

State and local education agencies, parents and community leaders, the telecommunications industry, and the federal government can help by making sure that schools and libraries have the support of the community, access to current information, and technical assistance.

There are several sites on the Internet that provide quality information on education and the E-Rate.

• U.S. Department of Education at http://www.ed.gov/Technology/ or call (800) USA-Learn
  
• Federal Communications Commission at http://www.fcc.gov/learnnet or call (888) CALL-FCC
  
• EdLinc at

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