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Fast Breaking E-Rate Information
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E-Rate Application Window for Academic year 2010-2011
NOW Closed
The E-Rate application window for filing requests for Fiscal Year 2010 will be open from Thursday, December 3, 2009 until Thursday, February 11, 2010.
The next round of applications will be held in late 2010. All applicants filing for services must have an approved technology plan. Please consult the NCEA website for information pertaining to the technology approval process.
Consult USAC’s website for important information and updates pertaining to the E-Rate program.
Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act
Congress has passed the Broadband Data Improvement Act that has two components. Title I of this bill is aimed at increasing the federal government's understanding of broadband deployment, standards, speeds, and prices which will ultimately impact positively on schools’ access to high speed connectivity, particularly those who are E-rate applicants.
Title II of the bill is termed Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act that seeks to increase public awareness and education on Internet safety and cybercrimes. Its provisions promote safe Internet use by children by enhancing the enforcement of child pornography laws and requiring on-line safety education by schools that are E-Rate recipients.
The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requirement that E-rate applicants utilize blocking and filtering software on school computers has been expanded to require also the adoption of Internet safety policies that include “ educating minors about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms and cyber bullying awareness and response."
Although it may be several months before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC )that oversees the E-Rate program issues guidance pertaining to the effective date and implementation requirements, E-Rate applicants should begin to develop programs to educate students about appropriate behaviors on interactive sites as well as how to educate students about appropriate behaviors on interactive sites as well as how to safeguarding identity and privacy and avoid cyber bullying activities.
There are many on-line resources available to assist schools in the development of a comprehensive program of safety education, including I-Safe, Inc. which is a non-profit foundation dedicated to online protection of youth that is endorsed by the U.S. Congress. Its website is http://www.isafe.org.
E-Rate Technology Approval Reminder
All technology plans for E-Rate applicants expire after three years and a new one must be approved by the start of that funding year – usually July 1st.
If the plan, covering the entire 2008-2009 school year is not approved by July 1st, the SLD will not provide discount funding for any portion of the year up until the plan is finally approved. Also, the applicant may not file a Form 486 for any services other than "basic" telephone service without an approved plan.
Because the tech plan approval dates are critical, all applicants should take this opportunity to confirm the status of their plan approval expirations. As a part of this process, applicants should check that copies of actual tech plan approval letters have been received and are being safely retained.
If the diocese or state does not approve Catholic school technology plans, they may be submitted to NCEA using the process described on the NCEA website at /public/PlanningForTechnology.asp
E-Rate Celebrates 10 Years of Connecting Schools and Students
A 2007 report commemorating the 10th anniversary of the E-Rate program is available on-line from EdLiNC (Education and Library Network Coalition) . Click here to be directed to it.
Children's Internet Protection Act
The Federal Communications Commission requires the use of filtering and blocking software by E-Rate recipients. Requirements of the law:
In order to receive discounts for Internet access and internal connections services under the universal service support mechanism, school and library authorities must certify that:
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They are enforcing a policy of Internet safety that includes measures to block or filter Internet access for both minors and adults to certain visual depictions.
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These include visual depictions that are (1) obscene, or (2) child pornography, or, with respect to use of computers with Internet access by minors, (3) harmful to minors. An authorized person may disable the blocking or filtering measure during any use by an adult to enable access for bona fide research or other lawful purpose.
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A school administrative authority must certify that its policy of Internet safety includes monitoring the online activities of minors.
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They have adopted and implemented an Internet safety policy addressing (i) access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet and World Wide Web; (ii) the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications; (iii) unauthorized access, including so-called "hacking," and other unlawful activities by minors online; (iv) unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors; and (v) measures designed to restrict minors’ access to materials harmful to minors
E-Rate Technology Plans
The technology plans that each school or diocese developed to satisfy the requirements of the E-Rate application process are supposed to be three-years plans. Consequently, as Year 4 of the E-rate program begins, technology plans should be updated to reflect goals for the next three years.
The Schools and Libraries Corporation guidelines for the revised technology plans remain the same as before:
- The plan must establish clear goals and a realistic strategy for using telecommunications and information technology to improve education or library services;
- The plan must have a professional development strategy to ensure that staff know how to use these new technologies to improve education or library services;
- The plan must include an assessment of the telecommunication services, hardware, software, and other services that will be needed to improve education or library services;
- The plan must provide for a sufficient budget to acquire and support the non-discounted elements of the plan: the hardware, software, professional development, and other services that will be needed to implement the strategy; and
- The plan must include an evaluation process that enables the school or library to monitor progress toward the specified goals and make mid-course corrections in response to new developments and opportunities as they arise.
The three specific things to pay attention to in plan revisions are:
- The goals and strategies listed in the plan should clearly demonstrate they are related to improved education outcomes.
- A professional development plan should not only outline the training for the staff responsible for running and maintaining the network, but also the training for the staff members directly involved in teaching or serving patrons with improved library service.
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There should be a clear indication of how technology use in the schools will be evaluated.
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