ETTC Alert ! September 24, 1997

Produced by the ETTC Clearinghouse Committee

This regular bulletin will include action items and deadlines relevant to your school district.

• The Universal Service Fund established by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 can provide discounts on all school communications services – including your regular voice telephone service. Discounts range from 20% to 90%.

1. Create your district’s local technology plan. (See below.)
2. Compile your hardware and software inventory necessary for computer communications including LAN & Internet

• The discount applies only for one year.
• All multi-year contracts with telecommunications service providers such as Bell Atlantic, Sprint, your internet service provider (ISP), etc. should include a clause allows your district to declare the contract null and void in the case that your educational discount is approved under the Tele Act. This clause will protect your districts’ interests, in the case that the discount would provide lower costs if you changed service providers.

• Schools can apply for the discount as a consortium, but the carrier must bill the discount back to each district individually.

• Each county’s coordinating council will conduct peer review and approval of local district technology plans. ETTCs may be available to help districts create their plans.

• Timely completion and approval of your plan is essential to have your district qualify for the Tele Act, the DLN aid and several other grant programs.

To insure continued funding of several programs, it is important that districts apply for the funds available. These programs include the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund grant competition and the Universal Service Fund. If sufficient number of schools do not apply, the funds will not be disbursed completely, and in addition, future funding may not be made available.

Distance Learning Network Aid: Note that 33% of your DLN dollars must be spent on equipment purchases.