Upcoming Dates:
| August 20 |
USAC webinar to review the information to be required in the Cybersecurity Pilot’s initial application, the Form 484 Part One (registration). |
| August 22 |
Introductory USAC webinar for service providers new to the E-rate program (registration). |
| August 23 |
Form 486 deadline for FY 2023 Wave 53. More generally, the Form 486 deadline is 120 days from the FCDL date, or the service start date (typically July 1st), whichever is later. Upcoming Form 486 deadlines are:
Wave 54 09/09/2024
Wave 55 09/23/2024
The first Form 486 deadline for FY 2024, for applicants funded on or before July 1st, will be October 29th. |
| August 27 |
USAC webinar with an overview of the Open Data system (registration). |
| August 29 |
USAC Open Data training webinar on creating reports and visualizations (registration). |
| August 29 |
Invoice deadline for ECF Window 3 applications.* |
| August 30 |
Due date for public comments on the FCC’s proposed Eligible Services List (“ESL”) for FY 2025 (DA 24-743). Reply comments are due September 16th. |
Bans on Student Cellphone Usage in School:
Last year, Florida passed a law requiring public schools to bar students from using personal wireless devices like smartphones during class time. So far, three other states — Indiana, Louisiana, and South Carolina — have followed Florida’s lead, with other states adopting policies to limit cellphones in schools, at a minimum, baring their usage in class. According to a recent article in the New York Times, other states are moving in a similar direction including:
- Delaware and Pennsylvania have allotted funds to purchase lockable phone pouches. As an alternative, Amazon, as but one example, is selling a classroom, lockable, cellphone cabinet for $45.95.
- Ohio, Minnesota, and Virginia schools have been directed to develop cellphone-free education policies.
- Governors in California and New York are pushing state lawmakers on legislation to limit cellphone usage in schools.
- Individual schools and school districts are adopting their own policies to limit in-class usage.
Support for cellphone-limiting policies or outright bans is coming from teachers, particularly in the upper grades. A study earlier this year by the Pew Research Center found that “72% of high school teachers say students being distracted by their cellphones in the classroom is a major problem.”
A majority of parents — 70% in one study — seem to agree that cellphone usage should be banned during classes but many believe that cellphone access is important outside of class during the school day. A more recent study in Long Island, where E-Rate Central is headquartered, showed a majority of parents agreed with classroom bans.
© Newsday
E-Rate Central is quick to acknowledge the disruptive effect that personal wireless devices can have in a live classroom environment. On the flip side, however, we remain a strong supporter of school bus Wi-Fi as a means of extending study hall learning activities beyond the normal school day. The E-rate eligibility of bus Wi-Fi was approved by the FCC rather late in the E-rate cycle for FY 2024. We expect — and support — greater adoption of school bus Wi‑Fi in FY 2025.