Agenda Item
h. E-RATE Category 1 Offsite Student Internet Connectivity Options (Not to exceed $240,660)
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Kermit Belcher, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information & Instructional Technology
Request: It is requested the Board of Education approve the purchase of internet connectivity options and associated infrastructure components from T-Mobile for an amount not to exceed $240,660. The district cost should not exceed $46,746, after the 90% E-rate discount.
Why: The purpose of this agenda item is to support the district’s ongoing efforts to provide students equitable access to the technology tools necessary in a hybrid/remote learning environment.
Details: The district is committed to providing necessary support for students participating in remote learning experiences. This request specifically addresses the need to purchase internet connectivity options to assist students in households without connectivity to the internet.
The United States Congress passed a law authorizing the FCC to fund Internet connectivity technologies for K-12 schools, based on a school’s free and reduced lunch percentage.
The program covers or has covered:
● E-rate Category 1 (formerly Priority 1): Provides equipment and services to attach DCSD buildings to the DCSD Wide Area Network as well as Internet connectivity and Wireless hotspots. Current purchases, if approved, are reimbursed by up to 90%.
T-Mobile hotspots are eligible for E-rate funding. The E-rate program helps schools and libraries receive funding for eligible equipment and connectivity services, including mobile wireless Internet services that can be supported by and delivered with Wi-Fi hotspots.
Financial impact: If E-rate is awarded, the pre-discounted amount shall not exceed $240,660. The district cost should not exceed $46,746 after the 90% E-rate discount.
General Fund 100.2800.553000.00011.7600.9990.0308.070.0000
Contact: Dr. Kermit Belcher, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information & Instructional Technology, 678.676.1274
Effective: July 2025
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs
E-Rate Bid Assessment Matrix
Funding Year 2025-2026
Product or Service: Category 1 Hotspots
School/Library Name: DeKalb Co. SD Evaluation Date: 3/25/2025
Vendor 1 Vendor 2 Vendor 3 Vendor 4 Vendor 5
Points Verizon ($15) Universal Network T-Mobile ($11.97) CDW-G ($10.36) AT&T ($10.00)
Evaluation Criteria* ($13.90)
Available
Price 30 20 22 26 29 30
Coverage Area 25 25 20 25 25 25
Adequate Bandwidth 15 15 15 15 15 15
Changeover Costs 15 10 10 15 10 10
Prior Experience
with Vendor 15 14 10 14 14 14
TOTAL POINTS: 100 84 77 95 93 94
*Criteria may be customized during the assessment as long as Price always has the highest point value and
the sum of all criteria totals 100. Please list any disqualified vendors in the Notes
Vendor Selected: T-Mobile
Approved By: Joseph Swing
Title:
Award Date. 3/25/2025
Bid Assessment Notes/Comments
The pricing for all services was comparable across the board (within $5/user/month). However, T-Mobile
was the most cost-effective choice due to changeover costs. All of the other vendors had some changeover
costs, whereas T-Mobile had none.