Digital Innovation Outpaces E-Rate Policies

In its role helping the nation's schools connect to the Internet and other telecommunications services, the E-rate has been among the most consistent of federal programs. But perhaps too consistent, educators and experts say.

Funding for the "education rate" program has held at about $2.25 billion a year since it was created under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and it covers few of the technology services available to schools beyond simple Internet and phone connectivity. But now, with a critical mass of schools connected to the Web, experts say inadequate funding and the program's onerous and often confusing rules and procedures can complicate schools' efforts to pursue more innovative tech-based approaches to teaching and learning. Carol Mattey, a senior policy advisor to the FCC's task force for the National Broadband Plan, says, "As part of the broadband plan, we're using this as a moment to take stock of where we are and how can we modernize the program and go forward to better serve the community." The FCC has already proposed some changes to the E-rate program as part of that plan.

The Children's Internet Protection Act, which requires schools and libraries participating in the E-rate program to certify that they have Internet-safety policies in place and block pornography and other content that could be harmful to children, would be revised as well. The revised plan would also require that "a school's Internet-safety policy must include educating minors about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social-networking Web sites and in chat rooms and cyberbullying awareness and response," according to the FCC's notice of proposed rule-making. Schools would also be required to enforce the provisions, and to allow materials to be unblocked for adult use for research and other lawful purposes.