The company that manages the federal E-rate program for the Federal Communications Commission has announced that it will resume financing discounts for telecommunications in schools and libraries.
In August, the Washington-based Universal Services Administrative Co. suspended issuing funding commitments—a step that effectively halted many projects to install telecommunications in schools. (“Cash Freeze for E-Rate Hits Schools,” Oct. 6, 2004.)
Officials said they were concerned they would be caught short in meeting their financial obligations under new federal accounting rules.
Universal Services announced on Nov. 3 that it expects to issue commitment letters for all applications for funding years prior to 2004 that have completed review. It said it would send out commitments for telephone and Internet services for the 2004 funding year, which ends in June 2005, monthly as funds become available.
