Education Technology (E-Rate)
Education Technology (E-rate)
The E-rate program is a $2.25 billion annual program which provides significant discounts of up to 90% to schools and libraries to help them build technology infrastructure and provide telecommunications and Internet services for students in low-income and rural areas.
Why is This Important to Your School District?
The E-rate program is a vital source of assistance in maintaining Internet connectivity, bringing new learning opportunities to special education students, and enhancing distance-learning in rural areas.
What to Tell Congress: NSBA's Position
Urge your Senators and Representatives to support efforts to ensure efficient operation and integrity of the program, increase the quality and speed of connectivity in our nation's schools, and address the technology gaps that remain.
What's Happening Now in Congress?
Legislation (S. 609, H.R. 278) has been introduced to permanently exempt Universal Service monies from the Anti-Deficiency Act, which would ensure efficient operation of the program.
Contact Us
If you are a school board member or state school boards association staff member, please contact Kathleen Branch, NSBA's Manager of Federal Advocacy Programs at kbranch@nsba.org.
If you are a Congressional staffer or a member of the media, please contact Chrisanne Gayl, NSBA's Director of Federal Programs at 703-838-6763 or by e-mail at cgayl@nsba.org.
Was This Page Helpful?
We want to hear from you! Send an e-mail to Kathleen Branch, NSBA's Manager of Federal Advocacy Programs at kbranch@nsba.org.
Resources
- NSBA's Issue Brief on Education Technology (E-rate)
[HTML 6,745kb]
The E-rate program provides discounts on technology resources to low-income and rural school districts. Learn more about its challenges and NSBA's position...
- E-Rate: Ten Years of Connecting Kids and Community
[PDF 1,140,861kb]
A report from Education and Library Networks Coalition (EdLiNC) and National Coalition for Technology in Education and Training (NCTET)
- NSBA's Letter to Senator Ted Stevens: December 11, 2006 [HTML 1,806kb]
Re: ADA Exemption for Universal Service Fund
- NSBA's Letter to Senate Commerce Committee: June 21, 2006 [HTML 8,887kb]
Re: Mark-up of S.2686, Communications, Consumers’ Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006