inacol 2013-07-25 e-rate 101: basics for education advocates
TRANSCRIPT
www.inacol.org
E-Rate 101: Basics for Education Advocates
Susan Patrick, President and CEO, iNACOL
Lisa Hone, Deputy Division Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, FCC
Jon Bernstein, Co-Chair, EdLINCJohn Bailey, Executive Director, Digital
Learning Now
July 25, 2013
www.inacol.org
Welcome & Introductions
Susan PatrickPresident & CEO, iNACOL
Susan PatrickPresident and CEO, iNACOL
John BaileyExecutive Director, Digital Learning Now!
Jon BernsteinCo-Chair, EdLINC Coalition
Lisa HoneDeputy Division Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission
Panelists
About iNACOL• Premier K-12 nonprofit in online learning dedicated to an important student-centric
mission: that all students have access to a world-class education and quality online and blended learning opportunities that prepare them for a lifetime of success.
• Leadership, advocacy, research, training, and networking with experts in K-12 online learning.– 4400+ members in K-12 online and blended learning in over 50 countries– Annual conference – iNACOL Blended and Online Learning Symposium: Orlando,
FL in October 28-30, 2013• Our strategic areas of focus in online and blended learning:
1. Policy2. Quality3. New Learning Models
Overview• Goal: Empower education advocates to
get involved in the E-rate discussion
• Topics:– Program basics– Legislative and regulatory history– E-rate 2.0: what to watch for & how to get
involved– Discussion with Lisa Hone of the FCC
www.inacol.org
E-Rate Basics
Susan PatrickPresident & CEO, iNACOL
John BaileyExecutive Director, Digital Learning Now!
Where we are now
• News Flash: FCC launches update of E-Rate 7/19/2013
• E-Rate Established in 1996 Telecom Act– E-Rate providing discounts on
telecommunications services/Internet access and connections to libraries and schools.
– Schools apply for E-Rate Funding USAC
USF• E-rate is one of four Universal Service Fund
(USF) programs
• Administered by the Universal Service Administration Company (USAC)
• USF is funded not out of general tax revenues but from a contribution fee system imposed on certain telecommunications carriers.
What E-rate Funds
• Provide more than $2 billion in annual discounts to help schools and libraries obtain telecommunications and Internet access.
• Discounts range from 20 to 90%.
• Schools and libraries can apply on their own or in consortia.
Eligible Services & Prioritization
• Priority 1 (funded first)– Telecommunications Services– Telecommunications– Internet Access
• Priority 2 (funding cap- not fully funded)– Internal Connections (eligible products)– Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections
(repair and upkeep of eligible products)
Application Process
Source: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09253.pdf
Digital Learning Now!Digital Learning Now! is a national campaign under the Foundation for Excellence in Education with the goal of advancing state policies that will create a high-quality digital learning environment to better equip all students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in this 21st-century economy.
• Advocacy: Building the broad public and political will needed to support policy change in legislation, regulation, and other policy levers to support digital learning.
• State Capacity Building: Assisting states in developing digital learning strategies for approving online courses or schools, defining quality criteria, developing funding structures, or providing flexibility to allow room for innovation with new school models.
• Collaboration: Leveraging the work of other thought leaders and organizations.
• Thought Leadership: Using white papers, convenings, and other resources, we seek to help make digital learning issues more aligned to the education reform community.
Annual Summit bringing together 800 state leaders, innovators, and education reformers. Oct. 17-18 in Boston
• Questions?
www.inacol.org
Historical context on FCC regulation and E-Rate
Jon BernsteinCo-Chair, EdLINC Coalitionhttp://www.edlinc.orgPresidentBernstein Strategy Group
EdLiNC
• Most major k-12 public and private education associations + ALA belong
• Established to pass the E-Rate prior to Telecom Act of 1996
• Has participated in every E-Rate rulemaking since 1996
• Goal: preserve and protect the E-Rate
History of E-Rate
• From Telecom Act 1996 to today• Key Issues:
– Program Goals– Priorities– Applications for discounts– Role of providers– Matrix of services and emerging technologies– Advocates and constituencies involved
E-Rate Issues of Yore…• Sound a lot like its issues today
– Funding• 1998: EdLiNC report indicates 15% of P2 applicants turned
away• 2000: $1.14 billion for internal connections/no P2 below 80%• 2012: $543 million for internal connections/no P2 below 90%• 2013: Possibly no money for P2
– Goals• 1998-Today: Public school classroom connection rates• 2005: EdLiNC proposes measures based on speed• 2013: Obama/Rosenworcel propose broadband goals• Education-related goals opposed by EdLiNC as contrary to
statute and program’s mission
Same as it ever was– Waste, Fraud and Abuse Protections
• Early Program Problems: Puerto Rico, Chicago, Atlanta, Ysleta• USAC Protections:
– Audits,– Site visits– Whistleblower hotline– Prosecution agreement w/DOJ– Debarment– HATS visits– Federal Gift Rules
– Structure• Discount matrix adjustments• Per pupil caps
– Application Process Streamlining• 1997: one napkin• 1998: dozens of paper forms• 2013: online applications• EdLiNC supports multi-year applications for P1 services
Song remains the same
– Appeals Backlog• Program Year 2011: over 1,800 appeals to USAC,
about 3 months to resolve appeals
– Increasing/reducing services• Voice• Leasing dark fiber
– 1998-2003: eligible– 2004-2010: ineligible pending ruling on FCC power to
regulate dark fiber– 2011- : eligible
Questions?
www.inacol.org
E-rate 2.0
John BaileyExecutive Director, Digital Learning Now!
E-rate 2.0
• New demands for broadband– PARCC/SBAC and other online assessments– Digital learning– Blended and Online learning
• Program Effectiveness– Can it be strengthened? – Can the process be simplified and streamlined?– What should the program support, for whom, and
for how much?
E-rate 2.0
Source: Funds for Learning
Opportunity to Update E-Rate
• FCC voted unanimously on Friday to move forward with NPRM to reform the E-rate.
• NPRM spells out three goals for modernization:1. Increased Broadband Capacity;
2. Cost-Effective Purchasing
3. Streamlined Program Administration
FCC Vote
Comments Due
Reply Comments Final Rule
Sept 16July 12 Oct 16
Increased Broadband Capacity
• 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
• Allocating funding on a simplified, per-student basis
Cost Effective Purchasing
• Increasing consortium purchasing to drive down prices• Creating other bulk buying opportunities and increasing
pricing transparency • Increasing transparency on how E-rate dollars are spent• Improving the competitive bidding process• Creating a pilot program to incentivize and test more
cost-effective purchasing practices
Streamlined Program Administration
• Speeding review of E-rate applications• Providing a streamlined electronic filing system and
requiring electronic filing of all documents • Increasing the transparency of USAC’s processes• Simplifying the eligible services list and adopting more
efficient ways to disburse E-rate funds • Streamlining the E-rate appeals process
Other Issues
• The applicability of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) to devices brought into schools and libraries, and to devices provided by schools and libraries for at-home use
• Adjusting to changes to the National School Lunch Program that affect E-rate
• Additional measures for protecting the program from waste, fraud and abuse
• Wireless community hotspots
www.inacol.org
FCC & E-Rate: NPRM & Process
Lisa HoneDeputy Division Chief Telecommunications Access Policy Division Wireline Competition Bureau Federal Communications Commission
www.inacol.org
Q&A
Please submit your questions in the chat box
Resources
– USAC Schools & Libraries Program (E-Rate Administrator) http://www.usac.org/sl/
– iNACOL http://www.inacol.org– Digital Learning Now!
http://www.digitallearningnow.com/
www.inacol.org
Thank you!Follow up questions about this webinar?
Contact:
Maria Worthen
Vice President for Federal & State Policy, iNACOL
Register now for the next e-Rate Webinar “e-Rate 2.0” on Tues. August 6 at 4 EST: http://bit.ly/19kGyEy