October 2004 — The Final Word
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The Impotance of Obeying E-Rate’s Rules
School officials must take charge of defining their technology needs, align those needs with their academic goals, as well as be able to defend the technologies they have chosen and the purchases they want to make.
School officials must ensure that they follow a competitive bidding process when they procure E-rate-supported products and services.
School officials must understand and follow the rules of when purchases can be made and installations completed.
As of this writing, the FCC is implementing changes that it hopes will enable more schools to use the program. Among other things, these new rules will bar school officials from trying to transfer E-rate-supported equipment to wealthier schools too quickly after it is originally installed in a low-income school. Furthermore, starting next year, school sites will be able to qualify for discounts on internal connections in only two out of every five years. This is another step designed to spread the available money more widely.
For some schools - those with annual phone bills of a few thousand dollars and no plans to build a 21st century network - it may not be cost-effective to continue participating in the E-rate program. However, for the rest, it’s time to make a renewed commitment to follow the rules, use the discounts, keep good records, and spread the word about everything technology is helping schools accomplish.
Funds For Learning LLC, a consulting firm focused on the E-rate program, is the creator of E-rate Manager SL, a free Web-based tool designed to help applicants manage their approved E-rate funding commitments. For more information, visit www.eratemanager.com.
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