Education
ERS Data Solutions Group can help your school enhance school connectivity, productivity, safety, and security with wireless technology.
From radio systems that help you locate staff, students, and buses instantly to secure wireless networks built for high-density and BYOD environments, we can help your school be safer and more efficient.
E-Rate: What is it?
“E-Rate” is a federal funded program operated by the FCC and administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). It provides over $2 Billion annually in reimbursement to schools and libraries for telecommunications service, internet access, and the infrastructure needed to deliver those services to the classroom.
Which Customers are eligible? Public or private primary and secondary schools and libraries that qualify for state assistance. Reimbursements range from 20-90% of the service costs and are determined by the percentage of students participating in the National School Lunch Program.
What Types of projects are funded?
- Eligible services for E-Rate funding fall into four categories. Specific details of eligible services are updated and published annually by USAC.
- Telecommunications Services. This includes digital transmission services, telephone and paging service, distance learning and interactive television service, etc.
- Internet Access. This includes basic access to the Internet, email service, web hosting, and basic maintenance and support.
- Internal Connections. This category covers the infrastructure required to transmit the above services within a school or campus, including cabling, switches and routers, firewalls, wireless LAN equipment, telephone back-end equipment, and video distribution. It does not include end-user devices such as personal computers and peripherals, telephones, or radios.
- Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections. Maintenance and technical support of the above Telecommunications Services and Internet Access are Priority 1 categories and are funded first. Internal Connections and Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections are Priority 2 categories and are funded after Priority 1 projects, starting with the neediest applicants.
What is the process?
- Technology Plan. The school creates a technology plan that must be approved by the
state prior to services beginning. Vendors and service providers may support the
customers as they develop their technology plan but a fair bidding process must
be conducted.
- Competitive Bid. The school files a Description of Services Requested
(Form 470) with USAC,which begins the competitive bidding process.
The bid must be open for at least 28 days. Only eligible providers that are registered
with USAC and have obtained a Service Provider Identification Number
(SPIN) may submit bids. USAC publishes the Form 470 on its website.
- Bid is Awarded. A service provider is selected, eligible services and discount levels are
calculated, and the school submits a Services Ordered and Certification Form (Form 471)
to request discounts on the costs of eligible services. This application must be submitted
within the E-Rate filing window,typically from early-December to mid-February.
- Funding Committed. USAC reviews all applications and issues a Funding Commitment
Decision Letter. If approved, services may commence.
- Services Delivered. For telecommunications services and Internet access,
service delivery may begin. For internal connections, the deployment of infrastructure
may commence.
- Reimbursement. Once services have been delivered, USAC is invoiced for
reimbursement either to the school or directly to the service provider.
247 in bus camera systems
247Security has been at the forefront of digital video system development for the school bus and pupil transportation industry. In fact, 247Security systems are among the first products to be recoginized as a "Recommended Product" by the NAPT. With a broad range of system solutions, we can meet the needs of any school district or contractor, big or small, building a system and service to fit your budget. Systems range from 1 to 8 cameras, with a variety of video storage configurations from solid state to the largest hard drives available.
Additional solutions ERS help schools implement include:
- Wi-Fi as a service
- Wi-Fi for dense 1:1 deployments
- Wi-Fi network consultation and analysis
- Wired network consultation and analysis
- Point of Sale for Athletic facilities