South Dakota State Library Services

• Libraries are important providers of Internet access to communities.
• E-rate can help your library obtain affordable Internet access and telecommunications services.
• Most SD public libraries are eligible to apply for E-rate.
• The FCC's plan complements the efforts of states and localities to bring advanced telecommunications and information services to schools and libraries.
• E-rate discounts range from 20%-90% of the costs of eligible services, based on the percentage of the local school district population eligible for the National School Lunch Program.

Category One

• Services needed to support broadband connectivity to schools and libraries
• Services that provide broadband to eligible locations including data links that connect multiple points
• Services used to connect eligible locations to the Internet
• Services that provide basic conduit access to the Internet
• Examples might include...
  • Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
  • Broadband over Power Lines
  • Cable Modem
  • Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) • DS-1 (T-1), DS-3 (T-3), and Fractional T-1 or T-3
  • Ethernet
  • Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) (Note: Dedicated voice channels on an ISDN circuit are no longer eligible)
  • Leased Lit Fiber
  • Leased Dark Fiber (including dark fiber indefeasible rights of use (IRUs) for a set term)
  • Self-Provisioned Broadband Networks (applicant owned and operated networks)
  • Frame Relay
  • Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS)
  • OC-1, OC-3, OC-12, OC-n
  • Satellite
  • Switched Multimegabit Data Service
  • Telephone dial-up
  • Wireless (e.g., microwave)

Category Two

• Internal connections needed for broadband connectivity within schools and libraries
• Internal connections necessary to bring broadband into, and provide it throughout, schools and libraries
• Broadband connections used for educational purposes within, between, or among instructional buildings that comprise a school campus or library branch
• Basic maintenance of these connections
• Services that manage and operate owned or leased broadband internal connections
• Examples might include...
  • Antennas, connectors, and related components used for internal broadband connections
  • Cabling
  • Caching
  • Firewall services and firewall components separate from basic firewall protection provided as a standard component of a vendor’s Internet access service
  • Racks
  • Routers
  • Switches
  • Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)/Battery Backup
  • Access points used in a local area network (LAN) or wireless local area network (WLAN) environment (such as wireless access points)
  • Wireless controller systems
  • Software supporting the components on this list used to distribute high-speed broadband throughout school buildings and libraries (applicants should request software in the same category as the associated service being obtained or installed)

The 2021 Eligible Service List provides a more in-depth guide of what services are covered.

• Start now by talking to your library board and IT people. What does the library need? Reduced rates on internet, increased broadband capacity, better Wi-Fi? The E-rate application begins with a competitive bidding request so you'll have to be able to itemize the products and services you want.
• The application process opens a year before the discounts begin. That means you should be ready to begin your library's application by this summer/fall for discounts in the 2021 funding year (July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022).

South Dakota E-rate webinars are recorded and posted on the SD DOE E-rate webpage.

Libraries accepting federal funding, including E-rate discounts, must comply with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA).

What is CIPA?

CIPA stands for the Children's Internet Protection Act. This is a law that was established in 2000 and helps to protect minors from obscene content and abuse on the Internet, among other things. To receive E-rate funding for Category One Internet access and all Category Two services, you must certify that your institution is in compliance with this law.

The protection measures must block or filter internet access to pictures that are: (a) obscene; (b) child pornography; or (c) harmful to minors (for computers that are accessed by minors). 

CIPA Requirements

To comply with CIPA requirements the library must:

• Create an internet safety policy, which can be a part of a library's technology plan (contact Cheyenne Chontos, Library Technology Coordinator to set up a meeting regarding your library's technology plan) that addresses the following issues: 
  • Access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet
  • The safety and security of minors when using email, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications,
  • Unauthorized access including "hacking" and other unlawful activities by minors online,
  • Unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors, and
  • Measures designed to restrict minors' access to materials harmful to them.
• Install a technology protection measure (a filter). You must have a technology protection measure that blocks or filters certain Internet access and content. You can download software, use hardware, or even use one your service provider may offer.  You must have one active on all computers — including staff computers.  Filtering does not need to cover patron owned devices such as laptops, tablets and phones that use library WiFi.
  However, authorized representatives of schools and libraries can turn the filter off upon request for adults wishing to do legitimate research (or other lawful activities). The local community, school, or library determines which websites or material to filter and how (if applicable) the filter can be turned off.  

• Hold a public notice and meeting.  You must have one public meeting where you discuss your approach to an Internet Safety Policy.  Before the meeting, you're required to advertise the meeting. This can be through an email, a flyer, a phone call, or any way you deem appropriate for your school or library. The meeting announcement should specifically reference the fact that Internet safety will be covered. "Public" here refers to your constituency, whether that's students and parents for schools or library patrons for libraries. For efficiency, you can combine this meeting with another, such as an open school board meeting.  The school/library is only required to have the meeting once, ever.

  Remember to retain the meeting announcement and an agenda or meeting minutes with your E-rate documents.

Necessary CIPA Documentation

• Notice of public meeting
• Agenda for meeting that shows opportunity of public comment
• Filtering records such as purchase order
• An internet safety policy