E-Rate: Making School Connectivity a Reality

1. E-Rate: Making School Connectivity a Reality School District Name Date

2. E-Rate Overview • What Is E-Rate? • Where Did E-Rate Come From? • How Do Schools Benefit From E-Rate? • Why Does E-Rate Matter? • Does E-Rate Work? • How Can We Improve E-Rate? • What Can I Do?

3. What Is E-Rate? • E-Rate is a program administered by the FCC which helps schools afford their telecommunications connectivity, including internet • E-Rate funds are generally used for four purposes: • telecommunications/phone service • internet connections • internal connections and • internal connection maintenance • E-Rate is narrowly focused on connectivity. It is a critical part to any district’s technology plan. • As one piece of an overall tech plan, E-Rate CANNOT be used for professional development or to purchase devices.

4. Where Did E-Rate Come From? • Created as part of the 1996 reauthorization of the Telecommunications Act • An already existing program was expanded to include funding to support connectivity in schools and libraries • The funds come from telecommunications companies, who usually pass the fee along to consumers • You can see the fee (Universal Services Fund) on your monthly phone bill

5. How Do Schools Benefit from E-Rate? • The E-Rate program provides funding, in the form of a discount, that helps schools afford their telecommunications connectivity. • E-Rate was critical in the massive expansion of Internet access to schools over the last decade. • As digital learning becomes the ‘norm’ in education, internet access and adequate bandwidth are a ‘must-have’, something E-Rate supports.

6. Why Does E-Rate Matter? • The E-Rate discount represents the ONLY source of federal funding available for education technology. • The US Education Department provides ZERO funding for education connectivity or professional development, even as schools brace for online assessments and the meaningful integration of technology in teaching and learning. • The sole source of federal education technology money is the FCC, not USED. • E-Rate and connectivity are the difference between students having access to a 21st-century digital learning experience and being left behind.

7. Does E-Rate Work? • Yes! E-Rate can take most of the credit in supporting the rapid, widespread growth in connectivity among the nation’s schools and libraries. • The biggest obstacle E-Rate faces is a funding shortage. Demand is regularly more than double what is available, meaning schools have to go without.

8. Improving E-Rate • The FCC is considering a series of proposed changes to E-Rate. • E-Rate works, it is not broken. The proposed changes must focus on expanding a successful program. • Changes should focus on transitioning E-Rate to a focus on expanded connectivity. • The single most effective way to expand this program is to infuse additional funding.

9. What Can I Do? • Engage in our district’s conversations about digital learning, technology planning and technology in the classroom. • Communicate the importance of E-Rate and connectivity to legislators and policy makers at the local, state and federal levels. • Let them know E-Rate is a successful program that is in high-demand. • Use specific examples of how your district’s connectivity supports student learning. Highlight what E-Rate means to your schools.

10. Questions? • List contact information.

11. Personalizing This Presentation • Personalize this presentation. Change the template! • Insert your district name and title on the front • Insert slides and additional detail. Possible topics: • Your district’s technology plan • How E-Rate has benefitted your district • Recent examples of E-Rate expenditures • What E-Rate will mean to your district in the coming years • DELETE THIS SLIDE!