Dive Brief:
- Landlines are being replaced with Internet-based phones in many schools, especially as the FCC's e-rate program scales back subsidies for traditional phone services.
- Funds for long-distance calling, cell phones, and other services will decrease by 20% annually starting this year.
- The program has decided to focus all of its monetary energy and funds on building WiFi capabilities in schools and libraries.
Dive Insight:
A good test of where one should be with tech would be looking to the e-rate program. If something is no longer funded, it's probably no longer relevant. For example, the E-rate program has already cut funds for email, web hosting, paging, and phone directory assistance. Furthermore, it just makes sense to use VoIP and pay for a single service.
Schools should be aware that applications for fiscal 2015 E-Rate funding are coming to a close very soon; FCC Form 471 applications are due at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 16.
