Information Technology Backgrounder FAQ 7. One of the provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was to establish a fund to help defray the telecommunications costs of schools and libraries. The purpose of the program is to insure that all schools and libraries, even in the poorest of districts, are able to keep their technology updated.
Some lawmakers disagree with the E-rate funding program, arguing that is an unfair tax.
However, a federal court decision has upheld the E-rate. Although there has been a shortfall in funding, thousands of applicants have received assistance through the program. The next step for many of these schools and libraries will to develope plans of how they will use these resources. The chances are that a number of the schools in your community have applied for E-rate funds.