Bring 21st Century Library Services to all New Yorkers: Support E-rate
What is the E-rate Program?
On May 7, 1997, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Universal Service Order implementing the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Order, commonly referred to as "E-Rate" (Education Rate), ensures that all eligible schools and libraries have affordable access to modern telecommunications and information services. Up to $2.25 billion annually was authorized initially to provide eligible schools and libraries with E-Rate discounts. The amount actually allocated by Congress for 1998-99 was $1.9 billion, but the full $2.25 billion has been authorized each year beginning with 1999-2000. As of FY 2010, the funding cap is indexed for inflation based on the Domestic Product chain-type price index that the FCC already uses for other purposes. During times of zero inflation or deflation, the funding cap will remain the same as the previous year.
The E-rate Program is important to New York State. It ensures that all eligible schools and libraries have affordable access to modern telecommunications and information services.
How does the E-rate Program help New York State Libraries?
The E-Rate Program provides funding to eligible public libraries and public library systems, school library media centers and school library systems, not-for-profit special libraries, and reference and research library resources systems. In Program Years (1-15), an average total of 379 libraries and library systems in New York State, with a yearly average of $11.2 million, received a grand total of almost $168 million from the E-Rate Program. New York's libraries have received almost $9.9 million, as of April 2013, for Program Year 15 (2012). This funding helps libraries purchase affordable advanced telecommunications services, Internet connectivity, and internal connections to meet the information needs of New Yorkers — critical infrastructure in today's information-rich world.
Year 1 (1998): $16,668,342; Year 2 (1999): $12,147,620; Year 3 (2000): $15,441,197; Year 4 (2001): $14,649,855;
Year 5 (2002): $9,753,209; Year 6 (2003): $11,100,197; Year 7 (2004): $9,882,076; Year 8 (2005): $6,787,108;
Year 9 (2006): $10,827,055; Year 10 (2007): $9,004,452; Year 11 (2008): $10,467,101; Year 12 (2009): $11,078,328;
Year 13 (2010)*: $9,705,242; Year 14 (2011)**: $10,602,031; Year 15 (2012)**: $9,862,590***
* Waves
to date 1-110 April 4, 2013
** Waves
to date 1-86 April 4, 2013
*** Waves
to date 1-37 April 4, 2013
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