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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“The huge expense is really on the T1 lines and the fiber optics connection to schools,” said Mr. Sablan.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
SLD recently granted some mainland schools $12 million worth of telecommunications services discounts, according to Mr. Sablan.<\/p>\n
But PSS remains confident it will get its 82 percent telecom costs subsidized.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
E-rate is the federal discount program for telecommunications services created through the Telecommunications Competition and Deregulation Act of 1996.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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