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Help
Desk of the Schools and Library Division: 888.203.8100
Kansas - Technology Assistance
for Kansas Educators:
Melinda Stanley, mstanley@ksde.org or
785.296.7922
What
is E-Rate?
The
following is quoted from material available at the
Schools
and Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service
Administrative Company (USAC) Web
site: "The Universal Service
Fund for Schools and Libraries, popularly known as the 'E-rate,'
provides all public and private schools and libraries access to
affordable telecommunications and advanced technologies. The E-rate
means that the rate or level schools and libraries pay for services
(telecommunications services, Internet Access and internal connections)
is discounted. Discounts are based on the number of students eligible
for the National Free Lunch Program.
Schools and libraries in
low-income urban communities and rural areas qualify for the highest
discounts.
The
E-rate provides discounts of 20% to 90% on the cost of
telecommunications, Internet Access, and network wiring
within school and library buildings. The discounts are paid
directly to the companies that provide schools and libraries
with these technology services.
Who
administers the program?
The
Universal Service Program is administered by the Schools and
Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service
Administrative Company (USAC). This not-for-profit
corporation was appointed by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) to ensure that the benefits of
telecommunications services reach students and communities
across the country."
The
TAKE Office at the Kansas State Department is happy to
assist you with any questions you may have or you may call
the Client Service Bureau of the Schools and Library
Division at 888.203.8100.
E-Rate Process
Once
you receive
your letter of commitment, the following process occurs:
ANNOUNCEMENT OF KANSAS COLLABORATIVE E-RATE SUPPORT
& TRAINING INITIATIVE
Kan-Ed, the Kansas State Department of Education and
the State Library of Kansas are pleased to announce
a collaborative effort to increase support to Kansas
Schools & Libraries related to the E-rate Program.
In an effort to improve E-rate participation and
benefits to Kansas libraries and schools, Kan-Ed has
expanded the scope of work provided by Don Dietrich
and staff of Dietrich Lockard Group to partner with
us in providing the following supports for Kansas
libraries and schools:
I. E-rate Training for Libraries & Schools
The training agenda includes E-rate overview,
planning, application process and forms completion
in the morning. The afternoon topics include
implementation, invoicing forms, contract
extensions, service substitutions,
record-keeping/audits, E-rate updates for 06 and
E-rate and Kan-Ed.
Training Dates/Locations:
Dec. 6 in Topeka
Location: Capitol Plaza Hotel
Room: Emerald 1
Time: 9am to 4:30pm
(room block rate available until Nov. 12 at the
Capitol Plaza Hotel under the Kansas Technology
Leadership Conference $82.00/night 785.431.7200)
Tues, Dec 13 - Hays (location to be announced)
Wed, Dec 14 - Dodge City (location to be announced)
Thurs, Dec 15 - Wichita (location to be announced)
Locations will be announced as they become
available.
Register by calling the Kansas E-rate Hotline at
1-866-372-8302
II. A Toll-Free E-rate Hotline for Kansas schools &
libraries
Dietrich Lockard Group has setup a toll free hotline
that will be staffed by one of DLG's E-Rate
consultants and will be dedicated to Kansas
entities. (This line will be in service beginning
Friday, November 4).
Phone #: 866-372-8302 (866-ERATE02)
Hours: M-F 8:00am to 5:00pm
Scope: All E-Rate related questions will be handled.
State E-rate Coordinator contacts:
Libraries: Jeff Hixon, State Library of Kansas jeffh@kslib.info
Schools: Melinda Stanley, Kansas State Department of
Education mstanley@ksde.org
Kan-Ed: Jerry Huff, jhuff@ksbor.org
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E-Rate News
To
receive Kansas E-rate News, subscribe to the KS Erate Listserv.
Email
listserv@shemp.ksde.org
with the message:
Subscribe KS_ERATE firstname lastname
E-rate News from Erate Central (Hyperlink to e-ratecentral.com
)
E-rate News from
Funds For Learning
Funding Commitments
Applicant Search for Funding Commitments
on the USAC Schools & Libraries Division website
Funding
Report Terminology
Helpful
Links:
Training and Outreach:
State
E-Rate Sites-
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