[1st-mile-nm] EducationSuperHighway: E-rate delays and denials

[Richard Lowenberg]

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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