The U.S. Department of Justice is reporting that the Houston Independent School District (HISD) agreed to pay $850,000 as part of a civil settlement relating to E-rate fraud and to "relinquish millions of dollars in requests for federal funds".

During the FCC's February open meeting, the Commission adopted an Order temporarily waiving FCC regulations for the remainder of FY 2009 and through FY 2010 which would enable schools to "allow members of the general public to use the schools' Internet access during non-operating hours."  The Rulemaking has now been published in the Federal Register and the FCC is seeking comments on making the "community use" rule permanent.

This week the FCC accepted the nomination of Sheryl Abshire, PhD to sit on the USAC Schools and Libraries Board.  Dr. Abshire is the Chief Technology Office at Calcasieu Parish School System in Louisiana and has been an outspoken advocate of the E-rate program.  Dr. Abshire's term ends in 2012, and she replaced Phyllis Simon whose term has expired. 

The USAC Schools and Libraries Committee met this week and is recommending to the FCC that they have enough funds to cover FY 2009 priority two applications at 78% and above. It typically takes a few weeks before the FCC approves USAC’s recommendations for lowering the discount threshold.

The FCC is conducting a survey of E-rate applicants as part of its development of the National Broadband Plan. The survey, which is authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will ask E-rate applicants to provide information about the usage and implementation of high speed internet access in schools and libraries.