 Universal Service Fund USF (E-rate)
E-rate is the federal program that provides for reduced rates on telephone service, Internet access and internal connections for schools and libraries. Your discount rate is based on the number of school children in your area who are eligible for a free or reduced lunch. E-rate can save your library money through lower fees for these vital services!
| • Michigan E-rate Training June 12, 2012
Registration
The Library of Michigan will offer a full-day E-rate training on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 in Lansing. Participation is limited to staff from Michigan libraries. The class will cover the basics of E-rate for those with little familiarity with the program and for those who need a refresher on the process. The class will be held in the Lake Michigan Room, 3rd floor, Library of Michigan, 702 West Kalamazoo, Lansing, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you have three years or less of experience with the E-rate program, this workshop is for you!
The federal E-rate program involves the Universal Service Fund into which telecommunications vendors pay in order for schools and libraries to receive discounts on telecommunications lines and services.
The Library of Michigan uses LSTA funding to hire an E-rate expert to conduct training and to offer consultation on particularly tricky and/or complex E-rate application issues. This year, Linda Schatz is our E-rate consultant. She has many years of E-rate experience, including the ground floor work at the very beginning of the program when she worked with the Michigan Information Network. She has worked for the SLD (Schools and Libraries Division of the Universal Service Administrative Company) and she is the E-rate consultant for the American Library Association.
The way our support works with Linda is that each library cooperative identifies the person who will be their E-rate trainer and support person. That person will have direct access to Linda Schatz by email or telephone. All others will have the opportunity to attend training with Linda. If there are specific questions from libraries during the year, they are to direct them to their cooperative E-rate trainer who will answer directly or after checking with Linda if they are unclear on a particular issue.
We will offer two trainings. The first, the one mentioned above, will be for anyone who has limited experience with the E-rate program and who is interested in saving money for their library by applying for E-rate discounts. We will cover the process from the beginning and will list out the annual flow of activities. The second training we will hold in the fall, after the national training takes place, and it will focus on any new program rules and/or changes as well as flagging issues to which you need to pay particular attention when you are filing.
Registration closes on Friday, June 1st. Cancellations for the E-rate workshop will be accepted up until 5 pm on Friday, June 1st. In the event of extenuating circumstances, please contact Sheryl Mase at mases@michigan.gov or 517-373-4331.
Cost $30. | • USAC Schools & Libraries Homepage
Information and Forms for use in filing for USF discounts.
| • Michigan Department of Education E-rate Information |
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