Contact your Board of Education for information on state and local programs. E-rate is a federally mandated telecommunications discount for schools seeking access to the Internet. For information on how to apply for your E-Rate discount, go to the School and Library Division of the Universal Service Administrative Company. Once you have identified the kind of products you want, visit vendor sites to find out more about their products and discount policies. Some companies handle educational sales themselves, others will refer you to a dealer.
Several organizations offer free services to schools.
NetDays are a grass-roots volunteer effort to wire schools so that computers can then be networked and connected to the Internet. The goal behind NetDays is to match technically skilled volunteers with schools that need help getting online. Labor, materials, and support are provided by companies, unions, parents, teachers, students, and school employees. Many communities design NetDays as a way for schools to get to know local hardware, software, and telecommunications vendors, and negotiate favorable deals for their goods and services. In a February 1997 radio address, President Clinton challenged communities to hold NetDays in all 50 states.