November 2005 — News/In Brief
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Uncovering E-Rate Mismanagement
What’s the Impact?
The impact of the E-Rate report
is still uncertain.
Because of the time and money
spent on it, and the fact that the
report was generated by a part of
the committee that oversees the
FCC and the E-Rate program, it is
likely that the findings and recommendations
will indeed affect the
program. The obvious timing for
major changes is during the reauthorization
of the Telecommunications
Act next year, but other
changes could happen sooner. Congress
may attempt to streamline the
entire E-Rate process and make it
less confusing. However, it is clear
that more reporting, auditing, and
general oversight into every aspect
of the process also will be implemented.
Whether or not Congress
can maintain a balance between
adding regulations to fight the
waste, fraud, and abuse, and making
the program more streamlined
and easier to use for districts, is a
fundamental question.
Following are three report messages that came across loud and clear:
- The FCC needs to do a better job with oversight, monitoring, and auditing, and it needs more money to do it.
- There seems to be significant blame directed toward vendors. The frequent use of the term “gold-plating” implies vendors are hoodwinking school districts into getting a range of goods and services that they do not need. Vendors need to be watched more carefully, if not reined in.
- There is a related implication that school districts are naïve and do not know what they are doing. Therefore, districts need to plan better, and they need more guidance in planning.
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