Agenda Item
m. Approval of Educational Funding Group, Inc. for E-Rate Consulting Services (Not to Exceed $80,000)
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Kermit Belcher, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information and Instructional Technology
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve payment to Educational Funding Group, Inc. for E-Rate consulting services in an amount not to exceed $80,000.
Why: The E-Rate program provides critical funding support for the District’s wide area network (WAN) infrastructure, internet access, and eligible network equipment used to deliver broadband services across DeKalb County School District schools and facilities. Due to the complexity of federal E-Rate rules, application processes, and compliance requirements, specialized consulting support is required to ensure the District remains compliant, competitive, and positioned to maximize available funding. Approval of this item authorizes continued professional E-Rate consulting services in support of the Division of Information and Instructional Technology.
Details: The Educational Funding Group, Inc. (EFG) serves as the District’s E-Rate consulting partner, guiding DCSD through the extensive rules, procedures, and compliance obligations of the federal E-Rate program. The E-Rate program, funded through the Universal Service Fund and administered by USAC under the direction of the FCC, is designed to provide discounts to assist schools and libraries in obtaining affordable telecommunications and internet access.
The E-Rate program supports two primary categories of services:
Category 1: Services that provide connectivity to and within educational facilities, including internet access and wide area network services.
Category 2: Eligible internal connections and equipment, including wireless access points, switches, routers, data cabling, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).
Key Services Provided by EFG:
Technology Review
Form Preparation
Competitive Bidding Support
USAC Review Support
Post-Commitment Actions
Document Retention
E-Rate Compliance and Regulatory Guidance
Ancillary Services
Continued collaboration between Educational Funding Group and DCSD has helped ensure the District consistently receives maximum benefit from the E-Rate program while strengthening and expanding its network infrastructure in a compliant and cost-effective manner.
Financial impact: General Fund
100.2800.530000.00011.7600.9990.0308.070.0000
Contact: Dr. Kermit Belcher, Chief Information Officer, Division of Information and Instructional Technology, 678.676.1274
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Pending Approval by the Office of Legal Affairs