FCC proposes new e-Rate eligibility rules

A proposed new rule for the federal e-Rate program could discourage schools from buying service contracts when they purchase network equipment, at least one program expert warns.

The rule is part of a draft version of the latest Eligible Services List for the e-Rate, which provides discounts on the cost of telecommunications services and Internet access. If approved, the revised list would take effect in the 2012 program year. Released June 24 by the Federal Communications Commission, the draft doesn't propose any major changes to the list of services that would be eligible for e-Rate support, but it does clarify several points. One of these points is whether the e-Rate should apply to maintenance and support for internal connections, or the wiring, routers, switches, and file servers needed to bring Internet access into classrooms. The FCC’s proposal states that basic maintenance of internal connections is to be reimbursed only for “actual work performed.” That means schools can’t apply for e-Rate discounts on the service contracts they might buy along with any internal connections; instead, they must wait until work is performed and then apply to be reimbursed for the cost of this work.

Cathy Cruzan, president of the e-Rate consulting firm Funds For Learning, said she worries that the rule might discourage schools from buying service contracts on their network gear, because they would have to go through two sets of program reviews.