Secondary School Educators/Expert Profile

Expertise

I am an expert in the E-Rate, the Schools & Libraries portion of the Universal Service Fund. I can answer questions for school districts on all topics related to applying for the program and receiving funds.

Experience in the area

When the E-Rate was first implemented, I was trained by the NJ Department of Education to assist schools in obtaining funding. Since then, I have worked inside school districts and as a consultant, getting funding for a wide range of schools and libraries.

Organizations

New Jersey Association of School Business Officers (NJASBO)
Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officers (PASBO)
New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA)

Publications

Keypost, July 2003

What do you like about this subject?

The E-Rate has been a catalyst in getting technology into the classroom, and has made the Internet a viable teaching tool.

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

I want to see 80% of the schools in New Jersey receive E-Rate funding. Right now, less than two thirds receive funding.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

New restrictions on funding for internal connections (LAN and PBX equipment and services) mean that starting with the 2005-2006 school year, more districts will be able to receive "Priority Two" funding. And rumblings at the FCC indicate that "dark fiber" wide area networks, outlawed this year, will be eligible again next year.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

Did you hear that an elementary school in Florida with 500 students received funding for a $1,000,000 Web server?