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. Beginning in FY 2010 the funding cap will be 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. For each Program Year (1-13), an average total of 373 libraries and library systems in New York State received an average total of nearly $11.8 million from the E-Rate Program. New York's libraries have received over $5 million in the first 18 waves of Program Year 14 (2011). 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): $17,524,279; Year 2 (1999): $12,863,403; Year 3 (2000): $14,851,224; Year 4 (2001): $15,278,087;
Year 5 (2002): $11,384,804; Year 6 (2003): $11,784,590; Year 7 (2004): $9,850,999; Year 8 (2005): $6,742,135;
Year 9 (2006): $10,841,319; Year 10 (2007): $9,021,158; Year 11 (2008): $10,497,101;
Year 12 (2009): $11,092,908; Year 13 (2010)*: $12,198,573; Year 14 (2011)**: $5,030,849
* Waves
to date 1-71 October 19, 2011
** Waves
to date 1-18 October 19, 2011
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