Bulletins

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Three weeks ago, 858 people showed up in Washington for a conference, hosted by the Consortium for School Networking, on the use of technology in K-12 education.

A federal grand jury has indicted six companies and five individuals on charges of defrauding the E-rate program, which helps schools and libraries nationwide get connected to the Internet.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A federal grand jury in San Francisco today returned a 22-count indictment against six companies and five individuals on charges of fraud, collusion, aiding and abetting, and conspiracy in connection with E-Rate projects at schools in seven states--Arkansas, California, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Wisconsin--the Department of Justice announced.

Kevin J. Martin, President Bush's choice to lead the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) into a new era of digital transmissions, is a firm supporter of the eRate and other telecommunications programs that benefit education, according to an analysis of his voting record and public statements he has made as an FCC commissioner.

Schools in Western Pennsylvania and nationwide are slow to take advantage of the Internet, a Bush administration official said Monday in Pittsburgh.

The Federal Communications Commission is doing a poor job of overseeing the E-rate program, the Government Accountability Office said in a report last week.

The man who didn't always fall into line behind FCC chief Michael Powell will take the reins of the commission. President Bush this week tapped Kevin Martin to succeed Powell as chairman of the FCC. As a currently sitting commissioner, Martin gets the keys to the corner suite without first running the gauntlet of a Senate confirmation.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should assume greater oversight of the eRate, should more closely analyze how the money is being used in the nation's schools, and should rid the $2.25 billion-a-year program of the waste, fraud, and abuse that have marred its reputation in recent years, according to a government report released March 16.

MANHASSET, N.Y. — President Bush on Wednesday named Kevin Martin to lead the Federal Communications Commission, according to a White House statement.

Commission rules establish procedures to prevent persons who have “defrauded the government or engaged in similar acts through activities associated with or related to the schools and libraries support mechanism” from receiving the benefits associated with that program.