MAEDS Technology Readiness Infrastructure Grant (TRIG)
Activity 1A
E-Rate Activity
Josh Hayes - WMISD
Jim Rarus – Wayne RESA
2013 Category Three:Statewide Activities
Collaborative Services
E-Rate Activity
Intra-Michigan Technology Readiness Leadership Consortium
Wexford-Missaukee ISD Awardee
E-Rate Activity
Bill Thompson, Project Manager
Macomb Intermediate School District (MISD)Computer/Network Operations Manager
Fourty years at MISDMember of 4 group of 5-4-3-2-1
Involved with E-rate since “Day 1”Experience as School, District and Consortium
E-Rate Activity
• Josh Hayes• Tom JohnsonIMTRLC
• Beth Soggs – Member of 5 group• Jim RarusGMEC
• Phil Carolan – Member of 4 groupKIC
Advisory Committee Membership
E-Rate Activity
• Jason Kronemeyer – 5 group• Darren SchiltzRNMC• Sam Accorso• Ben DaughertySWMC• Craig McBain – Chippewa Valley
Schools• Joe Bouman – Big Rapids Public
LEA
Advisory Committee Membership
E-Rate Activity
The FCC (at the direction of Congress in 1996) established and continues to oversee the E‐
rate Program. The Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) of the
Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), administers the E rate Program for the ‐
FCC.
What is E-Rate
E-Rate Activity
Elementary and secondary schoolsSchool districtsNon traditional facilities (conditional by state) ‐Libraries and library systemsConsortia
What is E-Rate – Who is eligible
E-Rate Activity
What is eligible? Priority 1 (funded before Priority 2):
Internet Access – ISP, E-mail, Web hosting, DNS, Domain registration, etc.Telecommunications & Telecommunication Services – Voice, Voice Mail,
iVoIP, Cellular, Data Circuits, Leased lines, Dark Fiber, etc.
Priority 2:Internal Connections – Cabling, Switches, Wireless Access, Servers (if
providing eligible service), etc.Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections (BMIC)- Service contracts,
Hardware and Software fixes (billed on time and materials basis (no fixed cost maintenance/warranty contracts).
E-Rate Activity
Discounts are 20‐90 percent of eligible costs. Discount level for a school depends on the percentage of students who are eligible for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in the school and the location of the school (Urban or Rural) .Districts and Consortia receive weighted average of the participating schools discount.
What is E-Rate – How much $
E-Rate Activity
Originally the program started at $2.25 billion nationwide. In 2010 the FCC allowed this amount to be indexed for inflation. Today $2.9 billion (before prior year unused funds are rolled over) is anticipated. In FY2013 almost $5 billion in applications were received. For the first time Priority 1 requests exceeded the cap (without rollover funds).
What is E-Rate – How much $
E-Rate Activity
• 1,279 Funding requests represents• $22.6 total cost/ $16.6 discounts (73.5%)• 149 unique service providers• Top four are Merit, AT&T, Comcast
Business and Verizon Wireless• Six are ISDs-ESAs • Rank 5th, 7th, 14th, 36th, 45th and 51st.
Internet Access:Interesting Facts E-rate FY 2013*
*All dollar amounts in millions
E-Rate Activity
• 2,576 Funding requests represents• $46.9 total cost/ $35.5 discounts (75.7%)• 146 unique service providers• Top four are Michigan Bell Telephone,
Verizon Wireless, Windstream and Computer Software Innovations#
• At least two are ISDs-ESAs
Telecommunications Services:Interesting Facts E-rate FY 2013*
*All dollar amounts in millions
E-Rate Activity
• 177 Internet funding requests• $2.3 total cost/ $1.8 discounts
• 299 Telecommunications Services funding requests• $1.1 total costs / $.76 discounts
Libraries:
Interesting Facts E-rate FY 2013*
*All dollar amounts in millions
E-Rate Activity
Benefits to the Local Districts
Drive costs down as low as possible
Simplify E-rate filing
Make sure all legal assurances are met
Exploit E-rate to the most benefit
E-Rate Activity
Outcomes/Deliverables
Design and implement a statewide bid for Internet connectivity
Establish training for school staffs and consultants that oversee the USF process will be ongoing and will
integrate the statewide bid process.
E-Rate Activity
Outcomes/Deliverables Develop state master contracts that districts can leverage
to drive down their cost of Wide Area Network (WAN) connectivity.
Successful implementation and utilization should ensure that every school has enough Internet bandwidth to take
high stakes online assessments.
E-Rate Activity
• Identify Advisory Committee and Workgroup
• Fact finding and researchApril - June
• Determine scope and services to be sought
• Contract with E-Rate Central• RFI process & write RFP - Issue
July - September
Timeline – Past
E-Rate Activity
• Review and approve technology plans
• Provide technical assistance and training to schools
• Regular Communication with the Michigan E-Rate community
• Regular coordination and support of E-rate consortiums and E-rate applicant consultants
E-rate Central [email protected]
E-Rate Activity
• Serve as a point of contact for Universal Services Administration Company (USAC) School and Library Division (SLD) reviewers seeking additional help in resolving issues with applicants
• Monitor, track, alert and intervene to ensure that individual applicants E-rate funds are obtained/recovered in a timely manner
• Participate on the MDE’s behalf in the State E-Rate Coordinators' Alliance (“SECA”)
E-rate Central [email protected]
E-Rate Activity
Discussion
Leaving money on the table
Problems with E-rate
Experiences
Statewide 470
E-Rate Activity
• Process RFP response(s)• Award & establish contract(s)• Regional training events
October – December
Timeline – near term
E-Rate Activity
RFP informationIssued and 470 posted on October 9th
Questions (vendors) October 21st
Answers/Clarifications posted October 25th
Due and opened November 8th
Bid award December 16th
Contracts negotiated and available ASAP - TBD
E-Rate Activity
Regional Training events
Five planned for first two weeks of December
Locations (to be determined):• UP – Marquette?, Gaylord?, Mt. Pleasant?, Kalamazoo?, Warren?
To be presented by E-Rate Central and E-Rate Activity
E-Rate Activity
Regional Training events
Will include FY2014 E-Rate program updates and changes
Grant expectations – using E-Rate Contracts
Local 470 & consideration of E-Rate Contract for vendor selection(s) and Local 471
E-Rate Activity
• Follow-on training • Assistance as requested• FY2015 planning
January –March
2014
Timeline – near term
E-Rate Activity
• Evaluate success of FY14• Repair/replace process as
needed• Plan for sustainability
April – June
• Rinse, lather and repeat• Expanded scope (?)• Training, training, training
July –June
Timeline – longer term (2014)
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