The E-rate process needs to be overhauled to include...
The E-rate process needs to be overhauled to include a less-cumbersome application process, said state grantees and E-rate coordinators on a Tuesday NARUC panel. Simplifying the program and modernizing it could help the FCC deal with the amount of paperwork…
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and maximize the $2.38 million allocated for the program, said John Bailey, Digital Learning Now executive director. “E-rate will enable us to provide connected models of learning, but we need connectivity,” said Bailey. “Our challenge is to make sure that the schools have the next generation infrastructure.” The current incarnation of the E-rate program has become increasingly complex to combat abuse to fix the problems that less than one percent have caused, said Debra Kriete, South Dakota E-rate coordinator. “In this case, E-rate is a victim of its own success, and administrative efficiency needs to be put into the program,” she said. The FCC issued the NPRM to update E-rate to address these problems, said Trent Harkrader, Wireline Bureau associate chief. “We are always trying to make the application process easier for our schools,” he said. “We are constantly in contact with states to learn about their best practices, and we are looking for more data from the states to make our decisions on the program.”