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.
Visit our Legislative Action Center to find out what's happening in Congress now.
Resources
- NSBA Issue Brief: Education Technology (E-rate)
[PDF 119,339kb]
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...
- NSBA Issue Brief: Enhancing Education through Technology (EETT) [PDF 138,939kb]
Learn more about the EETT program authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), in Title II, Part D.
- Coalition Letter to President Obama: January 11, 2010 [PDF 24,300kb]
NSBA co-signed a letter to President Obama calling for a strategic investment in innovation by increasing funding for the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) program.
- NSBA files comments with FCC on the future of E-Rate [PDF 139,373kb]
NSBA filed comments with the FCC on November 20, 2009 to strengthen the E-Rate program for schools and libraries.
- FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: November 5, 2009 [PDF 125,626kb]
The Federal Communications Commission implements provisions of the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act.
- FCC Public Notice: November 3, 2009 [PDF 220,047kb]
The Federal Communications Commission requests input on options for E-Rate modifications to improve broadband deployment.
- Coalition Letter to Senate Appropriations Committee: June 24, 2009 [PDF 28,267kb]
Re: FY2010 Appropriations for the Enhancing Education Through Technology Program
- Coalition Letter to House Appropriations Committee: June 24, 2009 [PDF 28,263kb]
Re: FY2010 Appropriations for the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) Program
- Federal Regulations Adversely Impacting Academic Achievement in Public Schools [PDF 188,603kb]
NSBA's review of three key areas negatively impacting student achievement: 1) Regulations implementing Title I of NCLB; 2) E-Rate program exemption from the Anti-Deficiency Act; and 3) Restrictions on Medicaid reimbursements to school districts.
- 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