Erate Education Rate What is Erate Program designed

E-rate (Education Rate)

What is E-rate? �Program designed in 1996 to overcome the “digital divide” �Designed to narrow Internet access gap between affluent and non-affluent school districts �Provides discounts for communications, network equipment, and cabling for qualified schools and school districts �Disburses $2 -3 billion annually

Who manages the E-rate Program? �Federal Communications Commission (FCC) �Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) �Determines items eligible for E-rate �Computers are not eligible, only infrastructure components such as routers and switches

How does a school district qualify? �Be an urban or rural school district with a majority of students qualified for the free and reduced lunch program �Be Child Internet Protection Act (CIPA) compliant �Ability to contribute 10% of total cost �Capable of using information technology infrastructure by having computers available �Have an approved technology plan �Provide training on the use of technology

How has SAISD benefited from E-rate? �Received over $40 million since 1996 for the following: �High speed wide area network for district �Internet �Support for telephone services �Wireless infrastructure �Equipment to connect Internet and networks �Maintenance contract for network equipment

Future E-rate Projects �Re-cable all schools �Upgrade wireless network infrastructure for faster, more reliable connections �Implement voice over IP (VOIP) in each school to allow a phone in every classroom if needed

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