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ERATE provides internet access to classrooms
Wednesday,
July 1, 2009
For the first time, every public high school classroom will have internet connection when the new school year opens.
This is made possible through funds from the ERATE program which provides internet access to schools throughout the United States and territories. Up to now the ERATE program has provided access only to computer labs but not to individual classrooms. The head of the ERATE program at the Department of Education, Lydia Amisone says Year 12 funding for ERATE will cover the internal connections for all public high schools, 1 private school, one public elementary school and three DOE offices. The grant will also provide telephone connections for individual classrooms.
Fred Brakman of Infinity Communications, a mainland company retained by DOE to resolve issues which led to delays in release of ERATE funding in the past few years, was in the territory for a week to review DOE’s needs for the next funding cycle. Brakman briefed DOE and other agencies involved in the procurement process regarding audit issues that the federal administrator of the ERATE program raised with other jurisdictions.
Amisone said that the company has helped l25 school districts in the mainland with their audits. She said one of the main reasons for delays in releasing funding is the lack of back up documentation to prove that services were actually provided. The ERATE program pays 90% of telecommunication costs and 10% pays the balance.
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