As a follow-up to our news story about the Dallas Independent School District and the Department of Justice reaching a settlement agreement last month, we noticed that Dallas' 2007 funding requests have been denied in a wave released late last week. The explanation of the cancellation provided by the SLD for these FRNs is interesting:

Over the last few weeks, Funds For Learning has received a number of questions about when and how the transfer of eligible Internal Connections should take place when the three-year installation threshold has not been attained. We have compiled some highlights from these questions below:

The Technology Information Center for Administrative Leadership (TICAL) has a great article on their site written by Tim Landeck which outlines some very practical advice for surviving an E-rate audit. Mr. Landeck is the Director, Technology Services for Pajaro Valley Unified School District. We are posting the article here with their permission. You can read the original at http://www.portical.org/stories/surviving_erate_audit.html.

A few months ago, Funds For Learning reported that i-SAFE, Inc. received a $300,000 earmark to expand and promote its services which include a "E-rate Compliance Package" related to E-rate program and the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act. Funds For Learning has learned that i-SAFE will likely receive an additional $650,000 earmark to offer its services to schools. This will bring the total earmarks for i-SAFE to nearly $1 Million dollars to develop and promote its services. How's that for an economic stimulus?

An analysis by Funds For Learning shows funding commitments in advance of the upcoming funding year falls behind the pace for the same period in advance of the FY 2008 funding year--in terms of both amount committed and number of approved FRNs.

In the most recent edition of the Schools and Libraries News Brief, the SLD announces that this week will have it's last "regular wave for FY 2007." The wave (numbered 80) will be issued on May 14 and will feature decisions for a number of Internal Connections and Basic Maintenance funding requests for the funding year that ended on June 30, 2008. Going forward, the SLD will release funding decisions for these requests "occasionally" as applications are reviewed.

This was a busy week in Washington as it relates to the E-rate program.  It is often times difficult for either school administrators or the service provider community to monitor E-rate program developments and Funds For Learning is a one-stop resource that provides regular program updates as they occur.

The responses to the survey keep coming in, so we're going to extend the deadline to respond to our E-rate survey. Go to http://www.fundsforlearning.com/survey to take part in the survey! It only takes between five and ten minutes to take. Your answers could help shape the future of the E-rate program!

Over the past couple of weeks, USAC has published new eligibility guidance for applicants and service providers who have requested E-rate discounts for web hosting services.  We appreciate USAC's updated guidance and support efforts to further clarify what types of products and services qualify for E-rate discounts.  

Yesterday, the FCC issued the latest wave of appeal decisions affecting appeals filed from Funding Years 1999-2008.  In its Order, the FCC granted thirty-nine appeals and denied thirty-one.  This latest ruling again emphasizes the Commission's stance on ceasing the denial of funding to applicants on procedural grounds, when the errors committed by the applicants did not confer any benefit to the applicant.