{"id":10370,"date":"2013-07-19T15:17:00","date_gmt":"2013-07-19T15:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/statescoop.scpnewsgrp.com\/fcc-updates-e-rate-broadband-program\/"},"modified":"2018-06-27T15:59:29","modified_gmt":"2018-06-27T15:59:29","slug":"fcc-updates-e-rate-broadband-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scoopmedia-develop.go-vip.net\/statescoop\/fcc-updates-e-rate-broadband-program\/","title":{"rendered":"FCC updates E-rate broadband program"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Federal Communications Commission\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-2976\" height=\"271\" src=\"https:\/\/scoopmedia-develop.go-vip.net\/statescoop\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2013-07-fcc-logo_white-on-dark-blue.png?mtime=20160120115042\" width=\"296\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The Federal Communications Commission on Friday initiated a thorough review and modernization of the E-rate program, which helps deliver broadband service to the nation\u2019s schools and libraries.<\/p>\n<p>The effort is built around three key areas:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Increased Broadband Capacity: To ensure schools and libraries have affordable access to 21st century broadband, the Commission seeks comment on a range of proposals to focus funds on supporting high-capacity broadband, including: simplifying rules on fiber deployment to lower barriers to new construction; prioritizing funding for new fiber deployments that will drive higher speeds and long-term efficiency; phasing out support for services like paging and directory assistance; ensuring that schools and libraries can access funding for modern high-speed Wi-Fi networks in classrooms and library buildings; and allocating funding on a simplified, per-student basis.<\/li>\n<li>Cost-effective Purchasing: To maximize the cost-effectiveness of E-rate purchases, the Commission seeks comment on how to increase consortium purchasing to drive down prices; how to create other bulk buying opportunities; how to increase transparency of prices and spending; how to improve the competitive bidding processes; and a pilot program to incentivize and test more cost-effective purchasing practices.<\/li>\n<li>Streamlined Program Administration: To streamline the administration of the E-rate program, the Commission seeks comment on speeding the review of E-rate applications; providing a streamlined electronic filing system and requiring electronic filing of documents; increasing the transparency of USAC\u2019s processes; simplifying the eligible services list and finding more efficient ways to disburse E-rate funds; reducing unused E-rate funding; and streamlining the E-rate appeals process.\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The initiative is the first comprehensive update of the E-rate program since 1997 when it was established. To date, the program has successfully connected virtually all U.S. schools and libraries (97% of U.S. classrooms) to the Internet.<\/p>\n<p>Over the past 15 years, support provided by the E-rate program has helped revolutionize school and library access to modern communications networks, but the needs of schools and libraries are changing.<\/p>\n<p>In schools, high-speed broadband access means an increasingly interactive and individualized learning environment and expands school boundaries through distance learning applications. In libraries, high-speed broadband access provides patrons the ability to apply for jobs; interact with federal, state, local, and tribal government agencies; engage in life-long learning; and stay in touch with friends and family.<\/p>\n<p>According to a 2010 survey of E-rate applicants, half had slower connection speeds than the average American home and 39% cited cost of service as the greatest barrier to better meeting their needs.\u00a0According to a recent American Library Association survey, one quarter of libraries still have broadband speeds of 1.5 Mbps or less, and only 9 percent of libraries have speeds of 100 Mbps or greater.<\/p>\n<p>In light of these findings, there is growing consensus that E-rate needs to be updated and revitalized with a renewed focus on ensuring that all schools and libraries have affordable access to high-capacity broadband.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Federal Communications Commission on Friday initiated a thorough review and modernization of the E-rate program, which helps deliver broadband service to the nation\u2019s schools and libraries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_grayscale_images":true,"grayscale_contrast":0,"sponsored_content":false,"display_author_bio":true,"story_type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\n\n{excerpt}\n\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[4677],"tags":[5287,1128,129,12,4],"people":[],"special-report":[],"authors":[4678],"class_list":["post-10370","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-state","tag-broadband","tag-e-rate","tag-education-stem","tag-state-local-news","tag-tech-news","author-statescoop-staff"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the 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