minnesota take on e-rate
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Education BroadbandMinnesota Schools & Public Libraries
How does it work in Minnesota?1. How are Minnesota schools and libraries are organized when it
comes to purchasing Internet access and applying for E-rate?2. How does state funding support schools and libraries after the E-
rate discounts are applied?3. What are challenges to partnering with other organizations as part
of the E-rate program?
Schools in Minnesota • Total number of school districts in Minnesota - 339 • Majority organized in telecommunication regions • Apply for E-rate in telecommunications regions • Average E-Rate Discount - 70%• Total number of charter schools - 165 • Total number of nonpublic schools - 467 • Districts that do not belong to telecommunication regions - 26 • Map of Minnesota Education Telecommunications Networks
Sources: Minnesota Department of Education and Minnesota Education Telecommunications Networks
Connectivity in Minnesota Schools • Bandwidth demands increasing rapidly
• Office of Broadband Development
• National goals - 100 Mbps per 1,000 students and staff (2014-2015)
• 1 Gbps per 1,000 students/staff (2016-2017)
• Most districts part of shared networks
Libraries 356 public library locations and 12 regional public library systems
Some libraries/regional systems collaborate and apply for E-rate as part of telecommunications regions
Other libraries/regional systems apply for E-rate as independent entities
Approximately 92% of public libraries participate in e-rate program
Average E-rate discount for libraries - 71%
Connectivity in Libraries
94% of public libraries report offering WiFi
Increasing Speed
Technology Access in Libraries6,129 public access computers/mobile devices available in public libraries
5,428,865 Internet sessions in 2014
State Funding • Schools
• $3.75 million per fiscal year • Ongoing cost of Internet Access (no E-rate Category 2) • E-rate discount applied first, state funds used for remainder• State funding pro-rated at 43%• Districts in telecommunications regions have funding advantage• Districts not in regions subject to reimbursement only after $16 per pupil
• Libraries • $2.3 million per fiscal year - state funds complement E-rate discounts to cover
libraries’ costs • 2014 statutory change expands eligible expenses to align directly with e-rate • Supports E-rate Category 1 first (estimate ~80% of appropriation)• Remaining funds help with Category 2 - current and preceding four years Eligible
Services List
Challenges • Bandwidth demand growing rapidly
• Schools using digital curriculum • Libraries providing access to downloadable digital resources (audio, video and e-
books)• Cost of last mile still high in rural Minnesota• Sharing connections with entities not eligible for E-rate - must be
cost allocated• Students may have broadband at school but not at home • Boundaries between school districts and libraries different • Persistent need for training and support (on demand and
scheduled)
Contact Mary Mehsikomer Jennifer Nelson
TIES State Librarian 651-999-6510 (651) 582- 8791
Questions