Agenda Item
e. ERATE Category 2 (Not to exceed $2,984,452.83) ~ Updated 3.7.2025
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Kermit Belcher, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information, and Instructional Technology
Request: It is requested the Board of Education approve the ERATE Category 2 awards for the following eligible purchases for services from the following vendors in the amounts listed below, as the lowest responsible, responsive bids, in an amount not to exceed $2,984,452.83. The district cost should not exceed $447,667.93 after the 90% Erate discount.
$554,680.23 CDWG Access Level Switches and associated components for new school locations (New Cross Keys, New Dresden and New Sequoyah)
$2,429,772.60 MGT Wireless Access Points and Licenses
Why: This recommendation provides the DeKalb County School District with Category 2 Erate for all eligible services that are classified as internal connections within a school building that support the attachment of student devices to the “Top of Rack” Category 1 Switch. DCSD shall receive a 85% reimbursement or discount based on free and reduced data. ERATE is administered by the “Universal Service Administrative Company” (USAC).
Details: DCSD utilizes ERATE to leverage the purchasing dollars of the “Universal Service Administrative Company” (USAC). ERATE allows DCSD to extend purchasing power for approved eligible services and seek reimbursement.
This year DCSD applied for the following reimbursement for services.
Access Level Switches and associated components for the new (Cross Keys HS, Sequoyah MS/HS Complex and Dresden ES)
Wireless Access Points and Licenses for providing wireless access for students at (Cross Keys HS, Sequoyah MS/HS Complex and Dresden ES and existing locations). After reviewing all criteria and costs, the bid is awarded to MGT.
Financial impact: If ERATE is awarded, these numbers are before 85% reimbursement. The pre-discounted amount shall not exceed $2,984,452.83. The district cost should not exceed $447,667.93 after the 85% Erate discount.
$554,680.23 CDWG Access Level Switches and associated components for new school locations (New Cross Keys, New Dresden and New Sequoyah)
$2,429,772.60 MGT Wireless Access Points and Licenses
General Funds
306.2210.573400.80336.7600.9990.8010.070.0000
Contact: Dr. Kermit Belcher, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information and Instructional Technology, 678.676.1274
Effective: March 2025
Status: Approved by Office of Legal Affairs
Chronology ERATE Category 2
The DeKalb County School District applies for reimbursement funding from The Universal
Service Administrative Company (USAC) for goods and services that are classified as internal
connections within a school building that support the attachment of student devices to the “Top
of Rack” Category 1 Switch. ERATE is administered by the “Universal Service Administrative
Company” (USAC) and based off the DCSD free and reduced lunch percentage
Since 2005, DCSD has owned its own buried fiber optic network which includes almost 240
miles of buried cable, connecting the district together in a Wide Area Network (WAN). This year
DCSD has applied for ERATE reimbursement for the following Category 2 services.
• Wireless Access Points and Licenses – This is to provide wireless access to the new
facilities and provide licenses for all DCSD Access points
• New Sites Access Switches and Associated Hardware (Dresden, Cross Keys, Sequoyah
and Kroger Building) these switches attach to the Category 1 “Top of Rack Switch” to
allow internal connections and internet access within the building
Year Description Vendor Amount Spent
2025-2026 Switches MGT $2,429,772.60
2025-2026 Access Points CDW-G $ 554,680.23
Category 1 Services:
• Definition: These are services that provide the basic infrastructure needed for schools
and libraries to access the internet, including data transmission services and internet
access.
• Examples: Telecommunications, telecommunications services, and internet access.
• Focus: Connecting schools and libraries to the internet.
• Budget: There is no budget for C1 services.
Category 2 Services:
• Definition: These services are designed to enable high-speed broadband connectivity
and internal connections within schools and libraries.
• Examples: Internal connections (IC), Managed Internal Broadband Services (MIBS), and
Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections (BMIC).
• Focus: Providing high-speed internet access within the school or library building.
• Budget: C2 services are subject to a pre-discount cost ceiling, which is a five-year budget
calculated based on the number of students in the school or the square footage of the
library.
• Equipment: Includes equipment and services needed for local area networks and
wireless local area networks inside schools and libraries.