ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 11, Number 79 October 2, 2002 In This Issue: E-Rate Training Teleconferences The Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Satellite Educational Network are pleased to announce the availability of two nationally televised satellite training opportunities on the Universal Service Schools and Libraries program, better known as E-Rate. Greg Weisiger, E-Rate coordinator for Virginia will host these informative programs. Universal Service, E-Rate discounts on telecommunications services, Internet access, and building hardware have been made available to eligible schools and libraries since January 1998. Since its inception, billions of dollars in E-Rate funding has enabled schools and libraries to connect students, teachers, and citizens to Internet resources. According to U.S. Department of Education statistics, 99 percent of public schools had Internet access in the fall of 2001, while only 78 percent had access in 1997. Despite overall success of E-Rate, the application and funding process remains cumbersome and complex. Each year approximately 20 percent of E-Rate applications are denied or rejected, largely for simple procedural errors. Even after funding commitments have been made, hundreds of millions of dollars are uncollected by applicants because of personnel turnover and missed filing deadlines. Don't let this happen to your school or library! On October 17, 2002 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. eastern time the Virginia Department of Education will present a live, interactive satellite teleconference: E-Rate for Beginners, designed for first time applicants, applicants that have been denied or rejected in the past, or for people that have just been handed the *E-Rate file* as part of their job duties. This teleconference will walk applicants step-by-step through the application and funding process with advice on avoiding funding denial or rejection and updates on filing deadlines. On October 24, 2002 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. eastern time the second teleconference, Maximizing E-Rate Discounts will be offered. This teleconference will also be live, interactive and provide hints and suggestions to legally and ethically maximize E-Rate discounts for the upcoming funding year. Included in this teleconference will be the forbidden words and phrases applicants should avoid using when submitting documentation to the E-Rate administrator, how increase discount rates, how to prepare for an audit, and how to file appeals. Officials from the Schools and Libraries Division have been invited to answer questions during this teleconference. Both teleconferences are offered at no charge and may be recorded, duplicated, and rebroadcast non-commercially. Both will air on C-Band satellite Anik E1, located at 118 degrees west, Channel 19. Test time begins at 1:30 eastern time. For assistance locating the Anik satellite prior to the teleconferences, Virginia Satellite Educational Network classes are broadcast Monday through Friday between 8:30 and 1:20 on Anik E1, Channel 19. Classes broadcast during this time are Latin and advanced placement courses offered from the Wise county studio. Videotapes of the teleconferences will be available from the Department of Education for $25 each. Send check or money order payable to: Virginia Department of Education E-Rate Teleconference P.O. Box 2120 Richmond, VA 23218 For more information on these teleconferences, contact Greg Weisiger, Virginia Department of Education, at (804) 692-0335 or email: gweisige@pen.k12.va.us ****** ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. To subscribe to ALAWON, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc@ala.org or go to http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. To unsubscribe to ALAWON, send the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc@ala.org. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. ALA Washington Office, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403, Washington, D.C. 20004-1701; phone: 202.628.8410 or 800.941.8478 toll-free; fax: 202.628.8419; e-mail: alawash@alawash.org; Web site: http://www.ala.org/washoff. Executive Director: Emily Sheketoff. Office of Government Relations: Lynne Bradley, Director; Camille Bowman, Mary Costabile, Don Essex, Patrice McDermott and Miriam Nisbet. Office for Information Technology Policy: Rick Weingarten, Director; Jennifer Hendrix, Carrie Russell, Claudette Tennant. ALAWON Editor: Bernadette Murphy.