Education

Facilities & Technology - Equity in Telecommunications Access

Statewide Outcome(s):

Equity in Telecommunications Access Aid  supports the following statewide outcome(s).

Minnesotans have the education and skills needed to achieve their goals.

Context:

Students across Minnesota should have equal access to technology. Students that have limited access to technology may experience what is known as the digital divide. The goal of the Equity in Telecommunications Access program is to expand telecommunication and internet access to all public and nonpublic schools in Minnesota.

Strategies:

This program provides funding on a reimbursement basis for qualifying telecommunication and internet access with the goal of providing each eligible school and school district with T1 transmission. Nonpublic schools, excluding home schools, may access revenue by annually submitting a request to the school district in which they are located.

Costs eligible for reimbursement under this program are limited to the following:

·         ongoing or recurring telecommunications/internet access costs associated with internet access, data lines, and video links providing: a) the equivalent of one data line, video link, or integrated data/video link for each elementary school, middle school, or high school under section 120A.05, subdivisions 9, 11, and 13; or b) the equivalent of one data line or video circuit, or integrated data/video link for each district and ongoing internet access service fees;

·         recurring costs of contractual or vendor-provided maintenance on the school district's wide area network;

·         recurring costs of cooperative, shared arrangements for regional delivery of telecommunications/internet access between school districts, postsecondary institutions, and public libraries; and

·         service provider installation fees for installation of new telecommunications lines or increased bandwidth.

Funding is based on the formula in Minnesota Statute (M.S.) 125B.26. Districts must apply for the federally funded e-rate program. Costs eligible for reimbursement are adjusted for e-rate revenue received.

Results:

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) does not collect information regarding connectivity of individual schools.

Performance Measures Notes:

Previous data is from FY 2009 and current data is from FY 2012.

Schools and school districts that are not a member of a telecommunication cluster having eligible costs not exceeding the $15 per AMCPU threshold outlined in statute do not qualify for aid.