The SLD has opened the Filing Window, accepting Forms 471 for requests
of E-rate discounts in Funding Year 2010. The window opened at Noon
Eastern Time on December 3, 2009, less than one day after receiving authorization from the FCC to begin this phase of the E-rate application
process.
The FCC has released and Report and Order and Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking related to eligible services within the E-rate
program. The FCC also authorizes the SLD to open the Form 471 Filing
Window for FY 2010.
USAC has announced that Priority 2 Commitments for FY2008 will now be funded at 87 % and Priority 2 Commitments for 2009 will be funded at the 80% discount level and above.
On November 3rd, the FCC released a Broadband Notice
of Inquiry as it relates to education and the E-rate program. In 2010,
the FCC must submit a National Broadband Plan to Congress. As a part of
the preparation of the National Broadband Plan, the FCC has asked stakeholders
to comment and provide feedback on many aspects of the plan.
On November 3rd, the FCC released a Broadband Notice of Inquiry as it relates to education and the E-rate program. In 2010, the FCC must submit a National Broadband Plan to Congress. As a part of the preparation of the National Broadband Plan, the FCC has asked stakeholders to comment and provide feedback on many aspects of the plan. Funds For Learning’s comments centered primarily on three aspects of the E-rate program: clarifying the FCC’s definition of "eligible purposes" to include the activity of any person(s) on school property, adjusting the discount matrix to allow more applicants an opportunity to receive discounts on Priority Two services, and increasing the annual $2.25B funding cap to adjust for the inflation that has occurred since the program started in 1998. The deadline for stakeholders to submit reply comments is December 11, 2009.
The Broadband Notice of Inquiry can be viewed here.
Funds For Learning’s Broadband Comments can be viewed here .
The SLD has announced that Service Providers can now access Items 21
submitted online for funding requests associated with their SPIN(s).
Service Providers who have access to USAC's E-File portal can log in to
see their online Item 21 data.
The FCC released a revised Form 498 this week which replaces the 2006
version. However, they are not at this time mandating that all E-rate
service providers fill out a new Form 498. The new Form 498 would be
used for companies that are first getting their SPIN or companies that
need to provide updated information to the FCC.
In October 2008, Congress passed a bill that updated the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and mandates that schools will have to teach online safety to students in order to receive E-rate funds. This week the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that provides further details and outlines timeframes for compliance.
As part of the FCC's move to develop a national broadband plan, the
Commission is seeking comments from stakeholders and the public about
how broadband plays a role in education and how suggested changes to
the E-rate program may affect broadband deployment in schools,
libraries, and within communities across the country.
In its quarterly report to the Federal Communications Commission, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) reported that approximately $350 million in unused funds from previous Funding Years could be used to supplement current and future requests for E-rate discounts. The amount of unused funds increased $150 million over the last quarterly report issued in July.
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