A quick comparison between an urban and a rural school under new E-Rate rules
Lets compare Seattle Washington and Yadkin County NC to see what happens if E-Rate reform is passed as proposed.
I am going to assume that neither school will be funded in 2014 for P-2.
Seattle applies for $524,331 in P-1 funding. After "outdated" services are subtracted, they would be applying for $119,442.
Yadkin applies for $325,726 in P-1 funding. After "outdated" services are subtracted, they would be applying for $205,511.
Seattle would qualify for $936,000 per year in wifi funding. Yadkin would qualify for $138,000.
Seattle's net gain between the two comes out to an extra $531,111 per year. Yadkin gets an extra $15,758.
I do not know all the details concerning the condition of Seattle's school wiring and wifi i but I do know where Yadkin stands. They applied for $2,000,000 in internal connections funding to try and bring their network and wiring up to speed. They will need more during the next 5 years. $15,758 is not going to get high speed broadband in the hands of students without funds being cut from somewhere else in the school budget. Staff cuts? sports? music?
E-Rate reform with a $150 Cap will never get broadband in rural America. It's time to start spending 2014 dollars on all of America's future workforce.