http://connect.educause.edu/browse/content/lib_item/4928,4973,318,331 http://connect.educause.edu/browse/content/lib_item/4928,4973,318,331 http://connect.educause.edu/educause/images/e_rss.png events, concepts, and conversation from EDUCAUSE The EDUCAUSE Podcast Crew EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology. Our podcasts provide information about a range of topics including Leadership, Policy and Law, Teaching and Learning, Emerging Technologies, Open Source, Research Computing, Cyberinfrastructure, and Digitial Libraries. http://connect.educause.edu/browse/content/node/691/list/feed Recent library resources tagged with Contributed by Organizations or Campuses; Articles, Papers, and Reports; Federal Funding for IT; and E-Rate. en http://connect.educause.edu/display/36988 A federal grand jury has indicted Rafael G. Adame on nine counts of wire fraud in connection with what federal authorities said was a practice of defrauding the E-Rate program. Operated by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) on behalf of the FCC, the E-Rate Program provides funds to extend Internet access to schools and libraries. Since it was implemented 10 years ago, the program has been the subject of numerous allegations of fraud and misuse. Adame is the 14th person to be charged in E-Rate fraud cases, and 12 companies have also been charged. Adame was the owner of ATE Tel, a telecommunications company in Texas that provided goods and services to the Weslaco Independent School District. Authorities said that Adame submitted fraudulent invoices totaling more than $140,000. Assistant Attorney General Thomas O. Barnett said, "Committing fraud upon the E-Rate program harms underprivileged school districts." http://connect.educause.edu/display/36988#comments E-Rate Federal Funding for IT Contributed by Organizations or Campuses Articles, Papers, and Reports HTML Mon, 11 Dec 2006 12:26:55 -0600 drupal 36988 at http://connect.educause.edu http://connect.educause.edu/display/36227 A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) puts forth renewed charges of fraud and mismanagement in the federal government's E-rate Program, designed to subsidize technology to connect U.S.schools and libraries to the Internet. The report was prepared for the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which is conducting its own investigation. Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.), chairman of the committee, blamed the Federal Communications Commission, unscrupulous vendors, and certain schools for the problems in the program, which he said was a "disgrace." Although investigations have led to a handful of penalties for abuse in the program, the report advises increased efforts to clean it up. Among the report's recommendations are calls to "comprehensively determine which federal accountability requirements apply to E-rate; establish meaningful E-rate performance goals and measures; and take steps to reduce its backlog of appeals." http://connect.educause.edu/display/36227#comments E-Rate Federal Funding for IT Contributed by Organizations or Campuses Articles, Papers, and Reports HTML Mon, 28 Mar 2005 15:05:20 -0600 drupal 36227 at http://connect.educause.edu http://connect.educause.edu/display/36008 Controversial bills proposed new penalties (including jail time) for copyright violations. http://connect.educause.edu/display/36008#comments Copyright Infringement E-Rate Federal Copyright Law Federal Funding for IT IDG News Service INDUCE Act Telecommunications Policy Contributed by Organizations or Campuses Articles, Papers, and Reports HTML Tue, 14 Dec 2004 10:48:26 -0600 drupal 36008 at http://connect.educause.edu http://connect.educause.edu/display/35961 Following a nearly four-month suspension of E-Rate Program payments, the federal organization that administers such payments has restarted issuing letters promising funds to schools and libraries around the country. The E-Rate Program has come under intense scrutiny for alleged fraud and abuse, and in August, government officials halted payments under the program based on revised accounting requirements. A number of school systems and libraries depend on E-Rate funds to provide basic computer services and connectivity, and at least one school district in Alaska shut down Internet service this summer because of concern that the E-Rate funds would end. Under the new rules, E-Rate letters cannot be sent until the funds they promise have been collected. The former system allowed letters to be sent after applications were approved, prior to collection of the funds, because the monies would not be disbursed for 12 to 18 months. The new regulation has resulted in a logjam in sending commitment letters and funds. Efforts in Congress have thus far failed to streamline the process. http://connect.educause.edu/display/35961#comments E-Rate Federal Funding for IT Contributed by Organizations or Campuses Articles, Papers, and Reports HTML Mon, 29 Nov 2004 11:08:49 -0600 drupal 35961 at http://connect.educause.edu