================================================================= ALAWON Volume 7, Number 4 ISSN 1069-7799 January 13, 1998 American Library Association Washington Office Newsline In this issue: (91 lines) SLC E-RATE WEB SITE IN FINAL TESTING PHASE SLC ISSUES TECH PLANNING PROCEDURES PLUS USER FAQS _________________________________________________________________ Note: The following are news flashes from the Schools and Libraries Corporation. SLC E-RATE WEB SITE IN FINAL TESTING PHASE The Schools and Libraries Corp. (SLC) announced today (January 12) that its E-rate application web site is now in user testing with librarians and educators. The results of this testing phase will determine the exact date upon which the web site will become operational. SLC will provide regular updates to education and library organizations and service providers about the schedule and official opening date. The SLC web site (http://www.slcfund.org) will allow schools and libraries to file their Universal Service Program forms electronically; it will also be the site where applicants' descriptions of required services will be posted so that providers can competitively bid for them. Opening of the site will trigger the 75-day window during which all applications received will be treated as if they had arrived on the same day. Applications will also be accepted via regular mail at Schools and Libraries Corporation, P.O. Box 4217, Iowa City, IA 52244-4217. Application forms and basic program information are available now for downloading and printing at http://www.neca.org, or can be obtained by calling toll-free 888-203-8100. _________________________________________________________________ SLC ISSUES TECH PLANNING PROCEDURES PLUS USER FAQS Policies and procedures are now available to help schools and libraries who do not yet have a technology plan meet that part of the application requirements for the Universal Service Program ("E-rate"). To receive discounts on telecommunications technology under this program, schools and libraries must have an approved technology plan that includes clear goals and realistic strategies for integrating technology, including professional development and an evaluation process. The Schools and Libraries Corp. (SLC), administrator of the E-rate program, now has a detailed policies/procedures document available for all schools and libraries who have yet to develop an approved plan; those with approved plans already in place (such as plans developed for Goals 2000 or state technology initiatives) will not need to create new plans. For a copy of the Technology Plan Policies/Procedures, call toll-free 888/203-8100. SLC has also developed two extensive "Commonly Asked Questions" documents to help schools and libraries answer their most pressing inquiries about applying for the Universal Service Program. One of these documents is based on questions fielded to date by the SLC hotline; the other addresses specific issues raised by the most recent FCC actions under the Fourth Order of Reconsideration. These documents are available at http://www.neca.org, or by calling 888/203-8100. Additional information on the universal service program is available from the website of the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy at http://www.ala.org/oitp/univserv.html. _________________________________________________________________ ALAWON is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. To subscribe, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc @ala.org. To unsubscribe, send the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc@ala.org. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/ washoff/alawon. Visit our Web site at http://www.alawash.org. ALA Washington Office 202.628.8410 (V) 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, #403 202.628.8419 (F) Washington, DC 20004-1701 800.941.8478 (V) Lynne E. Bradley, Editor Deirdre Herman, Managing Editor Contributors: Carol C. Henderson All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. =================================================================