Related Information: Congressional Research Service Reports E-Rate for Schools: Background on Telecommunications Discounts Through the Universal Service Fund (pdf) Related News: more related news...

We all know that there is no greater investment we can make than the education of our children. To ensure the effectiveness of this investment, we must dedicate ourselves to providing our children and teachers with every available tool. Technology is a vital tool in this effort; however, too many children do not have access to it.

Fortunately, there is a program that has brought technology into more and more school districts across the country. The "E-rate" program, administered by the Department of Education, provides discounted service nationwide to schools and libraries. Schools - large and small - have benefited from this program in Wisconsin. The "E-rate" program will eventually provide up to $1.925 billion in discounted service nationwide. The "E-rate" program was created as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which I strongly supported.

In 1998, the "E-rate" program came under attack in Congress, with some members trying to eliminate it entirely. Because of my commitment to bringing technology into the classroom, I worked with 20 of my colleagues in the Senate to help save the program.