The E-Rate program, or more formally the Schools and
Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund (USF), was created by the
Telecommunications Act of 1996, and began distributing funding in 1998.
Telecommunications carriers pay into a fund which is then used to subsidize
telecommunications and data communications for eligible entities. The program
has provided almost $13 billion to schools and libraries since 1998. The
program is overseen by the FCC and administered by the Schools and Libraries
Division (SLD) of the Universal Services Administration Company (USAC).
Subsidies (called “discounts”) are a percentage of
expenditures on telecommunications and Internet access. The level of discount
ranges from 20% to 90%, and is calculated based on the percentage of students
eligible for the USDA's National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
Marion County Information Systems is responsible for
submitting for E-Rate discounts for our Public Library System. Refunds for the
06’ / ’07 fiscal year totaled $53,114.07
Marion
County Information Systems recently assumed the
computer support service role for the District 5 Medical
Examiner’s Office (MEO) located in Leesburg, FL. This recent
addition came as a result of a transfer of management responsibility
from the Lake County Board of County Commissioners to the Marion
County Board of County Commissioners.
Twenty four
computers and one server are used to store and manage
thousands of official documents at the MEO. The District 5 Medical Examiners Office
is responsible for servicing the Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and
Sumter Counties.
