Bulletins

Pursuant to section 54.709(a)(3) of the Commission’s rules,1 on April 26, 2012, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) submitted projections of demand and Administrative expenses for the federal Universal Service Fund for the third quarter of 2012. According to USAC's projections, $400 million in unused funds from funding years 2003-2010 is available to carry forward to increase disbursements to schools and libraries via the E-rate program, more formally known as the schools and libraries universal service program.3 In addition, while preparing projections of demand and administrative expenses for the federal Universal Service Fund for the fourth quarter of 2012, USAC identified another $650 million available to be carried forward, for a total of $1.050 billion in funding available for funding year 2012.4 Section 54.507(a)(3) of the Commission’s rules states that "[a]ll funds collected that are unused shall be carried forward into subsequent funding years for use in the [E-rate program] in accordance with the public interest and notwithstanding the annual cap."

The State E-Rate Coordinators' Alliance (SECA) submits these Comments in response to the FCC's Public Notice released July 5, 2012 (designated DA 12-1052) seeking comment on USAC's proposed Eligible Services List ("ESL") for Funding Year 2013.

The E-rate program provides eligible schools and libraries discounts for eligible services and products. Consistent with prior years, in each category the ESL first lists the services and products that are eligible for funding, and then lists the services and products that are not eligible for funding. This ESL consolidates all the existing eligible Priority One services grouped into three functional categories: communications connectivity, voice services, and other designated or related services.

Administrator FY 2011 Funding Denials for Untimely Filed Item 21 Attachments CC Docket No. 02-6

Washington, D.C. – The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) will release a record wave of funding commitment decision letters (FCDLs) to Funding Year 2012 (FY 2012) school and library applicants on July 10, 2012. USAC will send over 23,800 letters committing $646 million in universal service support. The FCDLs will notify applicants of funding commitments for Priority One services (telecommunications and Internet access) for all discount bands from 20% to 90%.

BOSTON -- The head of the Federal Communications Commission said he supports cable companies' charging for Internet based on how much a subscriber uses the service, and also welcomed a cable industry initiative to share Wi-Fi hotspots around the country.

At the dawn of the Internet era, Congress set out to avert a digital divide between rich and poor students. In a landmark bill, lawmakers required the nation’s phone companies to provide bargain voice and data rates to schools and to subsidize the cost of equipment and services, with the biggest subsidies going to the schools with the most disadvantaged children.

Tel/Logic Inc., d.b.a. E-Rate Central, submits these Reply Comments in response to the FCC's Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released February 6, 2012 designated DA 10-1248, in part seeking comment on a proposal to establish a digital literacy training program.

A new commission that will author a blueprint on how to harness technology as a catalyst for educational reform will do so with support from the U.S. Department of Education and the Federal Communications Commission.

WASHINGTON — A former owner of two Illinois-based technology companies was sentenced today to serve 30 months in prison for her participation in a conspiracy to defraud the federal E-Rate program, the Department of Justice announced. Gloria Harper was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Barbier.

The FCC/DOE’s Digital Learning Collaborative, of which E-Rate Central is a member, releases the “Digital Textbook Playbook” designed to help educators tackle the major barriers to the adoption of e-textbooks.

Request for Review of a Decision by the Schools and Libraries Division from the State E-Rate Coordinators Alliance

Connect America Fund & Intercarrier Compensation Reform Order and FNPRM Executive Summary.

Proposal would help bring consumer benefits of broadband to 18 million Americans who are currently denied access to full economic and social participation; Unleashing opportunity, innovation, and job creation for all Americans.

Consultant Stole Funds Intended For Schools Under Federal E-rate Program.

CHANDLER, Ariz. — Amy Furman, a seventh-grade English teacher here, roams among 31 students sitting at their desks or in clumps on the floor. They’re studying Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” — but not in any traditional way.

Ex Parte Filing in: Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism, CC Docket No. 02-6 A National Broadband Plan For Our Future, GN Docket No. 09-51

The Eligible Services List (ESL) indicates whether specific products or services may be able to receive discounts under the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism (otherwise known as the E-rate program or "E-rate"). The ESL is organized into five sections that represent the five funding categories established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), plus a Miscellaneous section.

With K12, the largest U.S. operator of taxpayer-funded online schools, the former junk-bond king has figured out how to make money in education. Is that a good thing?