[OPLINLIST] FYI: More on FCC Erate
Frank Atkinson
franka@ohcapcon.com
Fri, 6 Aug 2004 09:04:28 -0400
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MEASURES TO SAFEGUARD THE E-RATE PROGRAM
=20
On Wednesday, the FCC adopted measures that resolve a number of issues =
that
have arisen from audit activities conducted as part of ongoing oversight =
of
the schools and libraries support mechanism (also known as the "E-rate"
program), and address programmatic concerns raised by its Office of
Inspector General. The schools and libraries program enables qualified
applicants to receive discounts on eligible telecommunications services,
Internet access, and internal connections. Since the program's =
inception in
1997, schools and libraries across the United States have received over =
$11
billion in funding commitments. Today, in large part due to this =
program,
99% of public schools and 92% of public school classrooms are connected =
to
the Internet. The Order does the following: 1) sets forth a framework
regarding what amounts should be recovered by the Universal Service
Administrative Company (USAC) and the Commission when funds have been
disbursed in violation of specific statutory provisions and Commission
rules; 2) announces that USAC and the Commission will conduct audits or
other investigations relating to use of E-rate funds within five years =
of
receipt of supported services; 3) eliminates the current option to =
offset
amounts disbursed in violation of the statute or a rule against other
funding commitments; 4) extends the red light rule previously adopted
pursuant to the Debt Collection Improvement Act (DCIA) to bar =
beneficiaries
or service providers from receiving additional benefits under the =
schools
and libraries program if they have failed to satisfy any outstanding
obligation to repay monies into the fund; 5) requires beneficiaries and
service providers to maintain all documents necessary to demonstrate
compliance with program requirements for five years, which will enhance =
the
Commission's ability to conduct all necessary oversight and provide a
stronger enforcement tool for detecting statutory and rule violations; =
6)
requires applicants to develop a technology plan consistent with the =
U.S.
Department of Education and USAC guidelines for technology plan content; =
7)
amends and strengthens the Commission's certification requirements for
E-rate applicants and service providers to enhance oversight and =
enforcement
activities; 8) directs USAC to submit a plan for timely audit =
resolution;
and 8) directs USAC to submit, annually, a list of its administrative
procedures for potential codification to enhance the Commission's =
ability to
limit waste, fraud and abuse. Wireline Competition Bureau Staff Contact:
Greg Lipscomb at 202-418-8200
[SOURCE: FCC]
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250540A1.doc
=20
=20
Frank Atkinson =
franka@ohcapcon.com
Rotunda Inc/Ohio Capitol Connection
http://www.rotundacollection.com <http://www.rotundacollection.com/>=20
21 W Broad St, Columbus Ohio 43215 http://www.ohcapcon.com
=20
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<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'text-autospace:none'><font size=3D2 =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'text-autospace:none'><font size=3D2 =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>MEASURES TO =
SAFEGUARD THE E-</span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'>RATE</span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>
PROGRAM</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'text-autospace:none'><font size=3D2 =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New"'> </span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'text-autospace:none'><font size=3D2 =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>On Wednesday, the =
FCC
adopted measures that resolve a number of issues that have arisen from =
audit
activities conducted as part of ongoing oversight of the schools and =
libraries
support mechanism (also known as the "E-rate" program), and =
address
programmatic concerns raised by its Office of Inspector General. =
The schools
and libraries program enables qualified applicants to receive discounts =
on
eligible telecommunications services, Internet access, and internal
connections. Since the program's inception in 1997, schools and =
libraries
across the </span></font><font size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>United =
States</span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>
have received over $11 billion in funding commitments. Today, in =
large part
due to this program, 99% of public schools and 92% of public school =
classrooms
are connected to the Internet. The Order does the following: 1) sets =
forth a
framework regarding what amounts should be recovered by the Universal =
Service
Administrative Company (USAC) and the Commission when funds have been =
disbursed
in violation of specific statutory provisions and Commission rules; 2)
announces that USAC and the Commission will conduct audits or other
investigations relating to use of E-rate funds within five years of =
receipt of
supported services; 3) eliminates the current option to offset amounts
disbursed in violation of the statute or a rule against other funding
commitments; 4) extends the red light rule previously adopted pursuant =
to the
Debt Collection Improvement Act (DCIA) to bar beneficiaries or service
providers from receiving additional benefits under the schools and =
libraries
program if they have failed to satisfy any outstanding obligation to =
repay
monies into the fund; 5) requires beneficiaries and service providers to
maintain all documents necessary to demonstrate compliance with program
requirements for five years, which will enhance the Commission's ability =
to
conduct all necessary oversight and provide a stronger enforcement tool =
for
detecting statutory and rule violations; 6) requires applicants to =
develop a
technology plan consistent with the U.S. Department of Education and =
USAC
guidelines for technology plan content; 7) amends and strengthens the
Commission's certification requirements for E-rate applicants and =
service
providers to enhance oversight and enforcement activities; 8) directs =
USAC to
submit a plan for timely audit resolution; and 8) directs USAC to =
submit,
annually, a list of its administrative procedures for potential =
codification to
enhance the Commission's ability to limit waste, fraud and abuse. =
Wireline
Competition Bureau Staff Contact: Greg Lipscomb at =
202-418-8200</span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'text-autospace:none'><font size=3D2 =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'>[SOURCE: FCC] <a
href=3D"http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250540A1.do=
c">http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-250540A1.doc</a>=
</span></font></p>
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<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
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<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Frank</span></font><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> =
Atkinson  =
; =
&=
nbsp; &n=
bsp; </span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>franka@ohcapcon.com</span></=
font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Rotunda Inc/Ohio Capitol =
Connection <a
href=3D"http://www.rotundacollection.com/">http://www.rotundacollection.c=
om</a></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>21 W Broad St</span></font><font size=3D2 =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>, </span></font><font =
size=3D2
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Columbus</span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Ohio</span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> </span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>43215</span></font><font
size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> &nbs=
p;
http://www.ohcapcon.com</span></font></p>
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