The Miracle of E-Rate
I've been trying to think of reasons to cancel my e-rate training for the past several weeks. But no matter how I rationalized I couldn't shake the feeling that I should get more e-rate knowledge.
It's a good thing that I've been here this week. I've learned much about the ins and outs of the e-rate process. I've come to understand the pressure the SLD feels from the FCC and Congress. There has been too much fraud and abuse of the process. Every new modification of the process has been implemented to avoid any possibility of fraud. I guess that the prospect of $2.25 billion makes vendors and and participants who are ethically challenged do some strange things. It's too bad. A few bad apples make it tough on all the honest people out there.
I heard whispers in the lobby during breaks. Attendees expressing frustration. Wishing that someone would tell them that there is no way they can qualify with all the new requirements. Hoping to not have to participate. The gentleman sitting next to me had a consistent reaction to each new requirement. "That's going to decrease participation."
The SLD cuts checks every week. They are getting about $30 million distributed every week. That roughly translates into $1.5 billion annually, or about two-thirds of the available funds. Is it really the hallmark of a successful program to leave 1/3 of the total in the bank and still have hundreds of millions of dollars in suspected fraud?
UEN depends on e-rate funds. We cannot do our jobs without it. But new regulations and scrutiny are going to make it much tougher to qualify. I'm glad I attended the conference. I guess...........
7:25:26 PM 
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