[1st-mile-nm] EducationSuperHighway: E-rate delays and denials
Richard Lowenberg
rl at 1st-mile.org
Thu Mar 8 10:00:42 PST 2018
http://delaysanddenials.org
A federal program intended to help school districts attain better access
to the internet is under fire. Advocates for connectivity say the
Federal Communications Commission is leaving many rural districts in
limbo with long delays and denials. Most of the concerns surround
applications for federal aid to connect rural schools to fiber optic
networks through the E-rate program. “Red tape and bureaucracy… are
causing huge delays in getting their projects reviewed,” said Evan
Marwell, CEO of EducationSuperHighway, a nonprofit that has long
advocated for school connectivity. The group estimates it takes an
average of nine months to get a decision on a fiber project. He said
that the contractor in charge of reviewing applications and FCC
administrators “are so concerned, so focused on waste, fraud and abuse,
and making sure a dollar doesn’t get spent the wrong way, that they are
losing sight of the real goal, which is to get kids connected. They’re
making it really hard.” EducationSuperHighway launched a website to
track delays and denials, hoping to put pressure on the FCC. According
to the site, 38 fiber optics projects in 17 states have been awaiting
decisions since last year. In addition, the group says 61 projects in 28
states have been “unfairly denied.” (snip)
A number of NM school districts are among the delayed and denied, noted
on the web site.
See also:
https://morningconsult.com/opinions/closing-school-broadband-gap
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Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
1st-Mile Institute 505-603-5200
Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,
rl at 1st-mile.org www.1st-mile.org
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