E-rate problems

Slashdot discusses the cuts to funding of internet for schools and libraries. Slashdot | FCC Internet Grant Decision Riles Congress: "The FCC, with no advance notice to congress, effectively made substantial cuts in the funding for the program that subsidizes provision of internet connection to libraries and poorer school systems. This was not small potatoes: 2.5 billion buys a lot of connection."

The Register says "The Feds have clamped down on distributing funds intended to equip schools and libraries with Internet connections, as they scramble to correct a long corrupt program.

Word dropped this week that the US FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has applied tighter accounting policies to the E-Rate program. More than $1bn in funds have been held hostage as a result of this move. This means that schools and libraries already suffering from a series of government and private industry c0ck-ups will have to wait on Internet and telecommunications technology needed to bring them into the 21st century."

A little FYI on this-- as of May 2004 ~ the past 5 years shows Oklahoma public schools and libraries have been approved by the federal government to receive $283 million in discounts under the E-Rate program. Some actual discount figures for Oklahoma schools in 2004 can be found here (from what I can tell the bigger the district the less the discount)--comparison figures for KS, AR, CO, MO and TX are also available.