1. Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund AKA: “E-Rate” - A. Lynne Watson

2. Universal Service Fund (USF) Created by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 Also know as E-rate Established for schools and public libraries Possibility for telecommunication services and technologies discounts Discounts based on community demographics Must be applied for every year

3. SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIESDISCOUNT MATRIX HOW DISADVANTAGED? % of students eligible for the Urban Rural national school lunch program Discount Discount 1 20 25 1-19 40 50 20 – 34 50 60 35-49 60 70 50-74 80 80 75-100 90 90 US Department of Education Archived Information. (2003). Schools and Libraries Universal Service Fund E-rate Fact Sheet. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/Technology/eratefacts.html

4. What can you get? Discounts on a school or library's internal connections, telecommunications services, and Internet access You cannot use USF for desktop computers, learning software, or teacher/librarian training

5. BISD Technology Plan BISD has an extensive technology plan, but does not currently participate in the E-Rate program. See the BISD Instructional Technology Plan Technology Services