[OPLINLIST] Changes to eRate

[Knapp, Mandy]

Hello all,

We're still waiting on the full details, but I wanted to give you a heads-up that there will be some significant changes to the eRate program this year. The last OPLIN4Cast<http://www.oplin.org/4cast/?p=4779> contained a nice overview of articles on this topic. As many of you know, OPLIN and the State Library have sponsored eRate workshops for public libraries, one in the late fall and one in the winter, for a number of years now. This year, because of the changes, we are planning to do many more workshops in locations around the state and are also looking into improving online delivery of the workshops. I highly encourage you to attend. Watch for details, including registration, early this fall.

So far, the only firm details we have are contained in the FCC's FAQ sheet<http://www.fcc.gov/article/doc-328172a2> and Press release<http://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-modernizes-e-rate-expand-robust-wi-fi-schools-libraries>. Some important items to note from the FCC's FAQ sheet include:

*        Directs at least $1 billion in support for Wi-Fi for Funding Years 2015 and 2016 to connect over 10 million students and thousands of libraries each year by establishing reasonable budgets for applicants.
*        Begins a multi-year transition of all program funding to broadband, by gradually phasing down support for non-broadband services.
*        Incentivizes consortia and bulk purchasing.
*        Moves to electronic filing of all documents.
*        Simplifies discount calculations.

I am composing a FAQ sheet for us on the topic, but am still waiting on details from the FCC. My goal is to have this to you next week.

Stay tuned,
[cid:image002.jpg at 01CFA0DA.CAC7A530]
Mandy Knapp
Library Consultant
274 E. 1st Avenue
Columbus, OH 43201
Tel: 614-466-1710
Toll Free:800-686-1532 (Ohio Only)
Fax: 614-466-3584
library.ohio.gov<http://library.ohio.gov>
[cid:image004.png at 01CFA0DA.CAC7A530]<https://www.facebook.com/StateLibraryOhio>  [Description: Twitter logo - links to the State Library of Ohio's Twitter page] <http://twitter.com/statelibohio>   [Description: Blog logo - Links to the State Library of Ohio's blog] <http://library.ohio.gov/blog/>   [cid:image009.png at 01CFA0DA.CAC7A530] <http://pinterest.com/stlibohio/>
Share Your Story<http://library.ohio.gov/state-librarian/share-your-story> by telling us how a
State Library service or resource helped
you or your library.


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.oplin.org/pipermail/oplinlist/attachments/20140716/5bccda6f/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image005.png
Type: image/png
Size: 4667 bytes
Desc: image005.png
URL: <http://lists.oplin.org/pipermail/oplinlist/attachments/20140716/5bccda6f/attachment.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 4806 bytes
Desc: image002.jpg
URL: <http://lists.oplin.org/pipermail/oplinlist/attachments/20140716/5bccda6f/attachment.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image004.png
Type: image/png
Size: 949 bytes
Desc: image004.png
URL: <http://lists.oplin.org/pipermail/oplinlist/attachments/20140716/5bccda6f/attachment-0001.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image007.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1063 bytes
Desc: image007.jpg
URL: <http://lists.oplin.org/pipermail/oplinlist/attachments/20140716/5bccda6f/attachment-0001.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image009.png
Type: image/png
Size: 2203 bytes
Desc: image009.png
URL: <http://lists.oplin.org/pipermail/oplinlist/attachments/20140716/5bccda6f/attachment-0002.png>