On
September 18, NRECA filed reply
comments with the FCC in response to a notice
of proposed rulemaking seeking comment on the services eligible for funding
under the Schools and Library Program (E-Rate) under the Federal Universal
Service Fund. The program helps connect schools and libraries to the
Internet. In the reply comments, NRECA recommended the FCC maintain
funding for Category Two Services, such as internal connections, managed
internal broadband services and basic maintenance of internal
connections. Schools and libraries in rural areas are more likely to lack
the in-house expertise to self-provision these services requiring them to rely
on their ISP, the comments said