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E-rate application hits some snags
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Posted on May 01 2000
The U.S. Schools and Library Division has yet to approve the CNMI’s e-rate (education rate) application package mainly concerned on the high cost of Internet connection fees local net providers here offer.
CNMI’s E-rate Coordinator Nic Sablan said compared to the mainland the Commonwealth’s Internet business rates are higher, especially connections using T1 or high-speed Internet pipe lines which is the only ideal connection for the whole Public School System network.
GTEPacifica, the main provider of Internet services in the CNMI, offers a $28.88 monthly unlimited Internet access for both residential and business types of users but apparently offers a higher rate for T1 users.
“The huge expense is really on the T1 lines and the fiber optics connection to schools,” said Mr. Sablan.
With over 36,000 schools nationwide applying for telecommunications discounts through the e-rate, SLD is really careful in screening institutions most eligible for it, according to Mr. Sablan.
E-rate percentage discounts are based on the number of students in public schools eligible for the Federal free and reduced price breakfast and lunch program.
Through a survey administered late last year, PSS was able to peg its discount at 82 percent, barely making it to SLD’s 81 percent cut off.
SLD recently granted some mainland schools $12 million worth of telecommunications services discounts, according to Mr. Sablan.
But PSS remains confident it will get its 82 percent telecom costs subsidized.
“I’m positive we will get what we’re asking for like telephone discounts, long distance activation for cellular, pagers but the internal connections, that’s the critical part,” he added.
E-rate is the federal discount program for telecommunications services created through the Telecommunications Competition and Deregulation Act of 1996.
