With Congress out of session, we’re using August to highlight significant policy issues. This week we tackle E-Rate Reform.
In June, the President set a goal of ensuring 99 percent of students have access to high-capacity broadband within 5 years. This means ensuring school networks provide minimum speeds of 100 Mbps, with a goal of 1 Gbps connectivity. As a first step in this process, the FCC has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to consider ideas for updating the E-Rate program, which for the last 17 years has provided funding to make internet connections affordable and accessible for schools and libraries across the country.
While there are plenty of places to discuss the politics of this (including an article in today’s Washington Post), this is on what it could mean for state CIOs who play a role in the program.
With the changes in how we connect and utilize the internet over those 17 years, the E-Rate program has become outdated and in need of rethinking. The FCC is hoping to modernize E-Rate’s administration, rethinking its current formula that prioritizes external connections over internal school connectivity, and improving the “efficiency and administration of the program.”
The NPRM is extremely wide ranging. For state CIOs, it includes questions such as whether states and tribes should play a role in determining priority for the funds and the phasing out of E-Rate funds for web and e-mail services. In addition, the FCC is considering whether it could take steps to facilitate use of new fiber runs for multiple business objectives, such as “backhaul for cell towers or services to other enterprise users...” Such a provision could be significant for state projects, including construction of the FirstNet nationwide public safety broadband network. More generally, the FCC is also looking for recommendations on how to incorporate into the program coordination and support of state-level efforts to increase broadband connectivity.
Beyond the potential for greater state input, increasing speeds, and broadband deployment, the FCC is also exploring ways to create greater collaboration and data gathering while streamlining the application process. Currently, consortium purchasing (where one entity purchases for many schools or districts) accounts for only 13 percent of the funding disbursed. The FCC is seeking comments on whether to adopt additional incentives or mechanisms to facilitate greater group purchasing and bulk purchasing opportunities, as well as how to capture greater data on connectivity in schools and libraries--which could provide assistance for CIOs interested in helping ensure public access to high-speed broadband.
To see the full 100-page NPRM, click here. Please share thoughts, comments or questions you might have with me at mherckis@amrms.com.
Other news: FirstNet Board Presents Business Plan
Yesterday, the FirstNet Board held its monthly meeting, at which several significant events occurred. Perhaps most important, the board adopted a business plan for FY 14, a “summary” presentation of which is available here. In addition, Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker announced the reappointment of Teri Takai, Jeff Johnson and Sue Swenson to the FirstNet. Takai and Johnson have been strong advocates for states and the roles of the state CIOs. Finally, the board announced it agreed to a spectrum-lease arrangement with the state of New Mexico, but will be ending negotiations of spectrum lease agreements with New Jersey’s Department of Treasury, as well as Charlotte, NC and Adams County, CO--who were two very advanced early builders of the network. This leaves negotiations remaining with the State of Mississippi, California’s Bay Area (BayRICS), and Texas’ Harris County.
Next week: More on FirstNet and its Business Plan for FY ‘14. In the meantime, feel free to write us at mherckis@amrms.com or swenger@amrms.com with tips, comments, or questions.
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