On November 3rd, the FCC released a Broadband Notice of Inquiry as it relates to education and the E-rate program. In 2010, the FCC must submit a National Broadband Plan to Congress. As a part of the preparation of the National Broadband Plan, the FCC has asked stakeholders to comment and provide feedback on many aspects of the plan. Funds For Learning’s comments centered primarily on three aspects of the E-rate program: clarifying the FCC’s definition of “eligible purposes” to include the activity of any person(s) on school property, adjusting the discount matrix to allow more applicants an opportunity to receive discounts on Priority Two services, and increasing the annual $2.25B funding cap to adjust for the inflation that has occurred since the program started in 1998. The deadline for stakeholders to submit reply comments is December 11, 2009.
The Broadband Notice of Inquiry can be viewed here
Funds For Learning’s Broadband Comments can be viewed here.
