Getting wired PSS readies to connect schools electronically

By Marian A. Maraya

Staff Reporter

The Public School System is set to implement this month the first phase of its three-fold E-rate installation plan to connect schools electronically across Saipan, Rota, and Tinian.

PSS officials have tapped a Honolulu-based E-rate consultant to assist the school system run through its installation plans and initiate the “wiring” process at the soonest possible time.

PSS which has recently been assured of some $400,000 to match its 76 percent E-rate discount, expects to get started with the project anytime soon, according PSS Technology Coordinator Mark Savares.

The 76 percent E-rate discount will cover PSS’ telecommunication services to include long distance telephone services, paging services, cellular services, Internet access, and equipment.

“Since our discount rate went down from 82 percent, the funding will only allow us the T1 services. The overall cost for the overall project was $2.5 million. We lost $2.1 million because most of the money has been designed for the internal connections portion which is the wiring for every school,” said Mr. Savares.

The first phase of PSS’ installation plan will involve wiring four schools on Saipan and two other high schools on Rota and Tinian.

The next phase will include connecting four to five additional schools while the third and last phase is aimed at wiring every single public school in the CNMI.

“We presented this plan to the Governor’s Office when we requested for the financial assistance. And they have verbally committed to match our discount funds,” said Mr. Savares.

Since last year, PSS has been batting for an 82 percent E-rate discount which was projected to cover all telecommunication services.

PSS even appealed to the U.S. Schools and Libraries Division to reconsider its 82 percent discount proposal.

But with over 36,000 schools nationwide applying for telecommunications discounts through the E-rate, SLD put in place strict measures in screening institutions most eligible for the discount program.

PSS came out with the percentage discount, based on the survey it distributed last November, meant to determine the number of students in public schools eligible to participate in the federal program.

E-rate or education rate is the federal discount program for telecommunications services created through the Telecommunications Competition and Deregulation Act of 1996.