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Leadership and Technology
E-Rate
What is E-Rate?
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 established the "Universal Service Discount Program for Schools and Libraries." The Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund, commonly known as "E-Rate," is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and provides discounts to assist most schools and libraries in the United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. It is one of four support programs funded through a Universal Service fee charged to companies that provide interstate and/or international telecommunications services.
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Who Administers E-Rate?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created the E-Rate program and the rules pertaining to its operation. The actual oversight of the program is handled by Universal Services Administrative Company (USAC), which was created by the FCC to run E-Rate and other universal service programs. Within the USAC organization, the Schools and Libraries Division is the governing body. No policy decisions are made by the division, and certified independent agencies approve the technology plan submitted as part of the application.
For additional resources in obtaining E-Rate discounts and the SLD Help desk, call the following numbers:
toll free: 1-888-203-8100
toll free fax: 1-888-276-8736
For E-Rate Questions email...
question@universalservice.org
E-Rate Discounts for Schools and Libraries overview.
School and Libraries Division Overview
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State Coordinators:
Division of Planning, Analysis, and Information Resources
Claiborne Building
5th Floor
1201 North Thrid Street
P.O. Box 94064
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9064
Phone: (225) 342-1849
Carol Mosley
Carol Mosley
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Who is Eligible to Participate?
For purposes of Universal Service Fund support, schools must meet the statutory definition of elementary and secondary schools found in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. § 7801(18) and (38)):
An elementary school is a non-profit institutional day or residential school, including a public elementary charter school, that provides elementary education, as determined under state law. A secondary school is a non-profit institutional day or residential school, including a public secondary charter school, that provides secondary education, as determined under state law, except that such term does not include any education beyond grade 12. Schools operating as for-profit businesses or that have endowments exceeding $50 million are not eligible.
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What is the Discount?
The E-Rate – or, more precisely, the Schools and Libraries Universal Service
Support Mechanism – provides discounts to assist most schools and libraries in the
United States to obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. Four
service categories are funded: Telecommunications Services, Internet Access,
Internal Connections Other than Basic Maintenance, and Basic Maintenance of
Internal Connections. Discounts range from 20% to 90% of the costs of eligible
services, depending on the level of poverty and the urban/rural status of the
population served.
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