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)

• 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 spring for discounts in the 2022 funding year (July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023).

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). 

Requirements of CIPA
CIPA has three basic requirements:

1. Internet safety policy: Schools and libraries must adopt and enforce an internet safety policy that includes five specific elements and a technology protection measure or filter (see Item 2 below). If you already have an internet safety policy or acceptable use policy, you can amend your existing policy to include the required elements. The policy must address the following:

• Access by minors to inappropriate matter on the internet or World Wide Web;
• Safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications;
• Unauthorized access including "hacking" and other unlawful activities by minors online;
• Unauthorized disclosure, use, dissemination of personal information regarding minors; and
• Measures designed to restrict minors' access to materials harmful to minors.

"Minor" is defined as any individual who has not attained the age of 17 years.

For schools, the policy must include monitoring the online activities of minors. Schools also certify that their internet safety policies have been updated to provide for educating minors about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms, cyberbullying awareness, and response.

2. Technology protection measure: Schools and libraries must enforce the use of a technology protection measure (i.e., a filter or a technology that blocks or filters internet access) on all of their computers with internet access. The filter must protect against access by adults and minors to visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or – with respect to the use of computers with internet access by minors – harmful to minors. The filter can be disabled during use by an adult to enable access for bona fide research or other lawful purposes.

3. Public notice and public hearing or meeting: Schools and libraries must provide reasonable public notice and hold at least one public hearing or meeting to address the proposed internet safety policy. Additional hearings or meetings are not necessary – even if the policy is amended – unless required by state or local rules or by the policy itself.

• Certifying compliance with CIPA
• The administrative authority for the school or library must certify compliance with CIPA.

For a school, the administrative authority may be the school, school board, school district, local educational agency, or other authority responsible for administration of a school.
For a library, the administrative authority may be the library, library board, or other authority with responsibility for administration of the library.

The administrative authority can certify the status of its compliance with CIPA on the FCC Form 486 if it is applying for E-Rate discounts directly (in other words, if it is the billed entity).

If the administrative authority is not applying directly – for example, if it is a member of a consortium that applies on its behalf – the administrative authority certifies its compliance on the FCC Form 479 (Certification by Administrative Authority to Billed Entity of Compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act Form). The administrative authority then provides a copy of the completed FCC Form 479 to the entity applying on its behalf. That entity can then accurately make the appropriate CIPA certification(s) on its FCC Form 486.

Timing of compliance with CIPA
In the first year a school or library receives E-Rate funding for internet access and/or Category Two services, the school or library can certify that it is undertaking actions to be compliant with CIPA for the next funding year. In the second (next) funding year, the school or library must certify that it is compliant with CIPA, unless state or local procurement rules or regulations or competitive bidding requirements prevent the making of the certification. In the third funding year, the school or library must be compliant with CIPA.

Documentation of compliance with CIPA
Below are some examples of documentation that may be requested to demonstrate CIPA compliance during an audit. The school or library should retain copies of the documentation for each funding year where a CIPA certification is required. Note that documents must be retained for at least 10 years after the latter of the last day of the applicable funding year or the service delivery deadline for the funding request.

• A copy of the internet safety policy.
• A description of the filter and a report or other documentation on the use of the filter. The documentation should show that the filter was installed and working during the funding year.
• Documentation that the school or library gave public notice and held a public hearing or meeting on the policy – for example, an advertisement of the meeting and a copy of the meeting minutes.
• Documentation of the adoption of the policy.
• Copies of the FCC Form(s) 479 and/or FCC Form(s) 486, as applicable.

If you have questions about this information or for additional help, you can contact USAC's Customer Service Center (CSC) at (888) 203-8100. You can also refer to the CIPA guidance document on the USAC website.