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 NEWS  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE:  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT:  November  23,  2004  Mark  Wigfield,  202-  418-  0253 
 Email:  mark.  wigfield@  fcc.  gov 


 E-  Rate  Program  Issues  New  Funding  Commitments  for  Providing  Internet,  Telecommunications  Services  To  Nation’s  Schools  and  Libraries 
 Washington,  D.  C.  –  The  federal  program  that  helps  provide  Internet  access  to  the  nation’s  schools  and  libraries  has  approved  $24.2  million  in  new  funding  for  projects  and  services. 
 The  Schools  and  Libraries  Division  of  the  Universal  Service  Administrative  Company  promised  the  funding  in  194  commitment  letters  mailed  to  schools  and  libraries  on  Monday. 
 USAC,  a  private  non-  profit  corporation  that  administers  the  program  for  the  Federal  Communications  Commission,  expects  to  issue  additional  funding  letters  by  the  end  of  the 
 month.  USAC  and  the  FCC  will  continue  to  work  to  ensure  that  funding  commitments  are  made  as  money  is  available. 


 The  194  letters  will  enable  applicants  to  get  discounts  of  between  70  to  90  percent  from  contractors  installing  internal  connections  at  schools  and  libraries,  and  discounts  at  all  levels  for 
 the  purchase  of  telecommunications  and  Internet  services.  USAC  pays  to  the  contractor  the  balance  of  charges  not  paid  by  the  school. 


 The  letters  will  commit  funds  for  some  of  the  applications  and  appeals  remaining  from  2003  and  prior  funding  years.  USAC  had  issued  $764  million  in  commitment  letters  for  funding 
 year  2004  before  new  letters  were  suspended  in  August.  Letters  to  be  sent  near  the  end  of  November  will  be  for  additional  Funding  Year  2004  commitments  that  have  been  approved  for 
 funding  and  for  which  cash  is  available.  Additional  Funding  Year  2004  commitments  will  be  issued  in  the  future  as  money  is  available. 


 -FCC- 
 News  about  the  Federal  Communications  Commission  can  also  be  found 
 on  the  Commission’s  web  site  www.  fcc.  gov. 
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