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"E-rate: Connecting Kids and Communities to the Future," Education and Library Networks Coalition (EdLiNC).

http://198.5.6.209/pubs/eratereport.html

Date of Study:

1998-1999

Basis of Study:

E-rate is a federal universal service initiative that provides crucial discounts (20-90%) on telecommunications, Internet technologies, and internal connections services to thousands of elementary and secondary schools and public libraries across the country.

This study incorporates several research projects undertaken by EdLiNC, including:

a survey of E-rater applicants about the impact of E-rate on their schools and libraries
a nationwide poll of 1000 households about attitudes towards educational technologies and discounts for schools and libraries
a survey of current research literature showing the impact of educational technologies on elementary and secondary school students and lifelong learners

Focus of Study:

Facts and findings demonstrate the catalytic role that E-rate has been playing in bringing affordable access to telecommunications and advanced services to schools and libraries.

Findings:

There is strong public support for the introduction of information technology into our nation's schools and libraries. A non-partisan poll commissioned by EdLiNC indicates that 87% of the respondents support E-rate's mission of providing discounts to schools and libraries. 83% of Americans think that Internet access in schools and libraries will improve educational opportunities for all Americans.
Demand for the E-rate is strong. During the 1998 funding year 25,785 of more than 30,000 applicants were at least partially funded for a total of $1.67 billion over the first 18 months of the program.
The impact of E-rate has been felt across a wide spectrum of applicants from large, urban school districts to remote and rural schools. E-rate is being used to level the playing field, bringing equal resources to students in large, diverse school districts as well as small, private schools. E-rate has been used to leverage additional funding and institute a more powerful outcome.
If universal access to technology is to be achieved in schools and libraries, the E-rate program must be funded at a level sufficient to meet their demand.

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