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DEADLINE FOR E-RATEFUNDINGCAMPAIGN TO SECURE FEDERAL FUNDS The FCC will multiply each donation amount by 10, for wireless improvements in Miami-Dade County Public Schools announced today that the deadline for submitting donations to the E-rate Funding Campaign “Bringing Wireless to the Classroom” has been extended to March 20, 2012. The campaign, launched last November by The Foundation for New Education Initiatives, the nonprofit organization supporting Miami-Dade Schools, originally had a January 31 deadline. At the time of the campaign’s launch, the 2012-13 E-rate application timelines had not been released. Because this information is always released in January of the application year, the first conservative date was chosen. This means that the fundraising campaign continues until March 20, which is the last day to apply for wireless infrastructure at Miami-Dade schools. Funds will be matched by federal dollars at a rate of $100 for every $10 raised locally, yielding up to $70 million to fund needed technology improvements in Miami-Dade’s public schools. The District’s goal is to connect all schools via Wi-Fi by the 2012-2013 school year. Contributions are being sought from local businesses and private citizens to meet the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) E-Rate program’s March 20th deadline to have the local funding in place. School district administrators estimate that it costs about $200,000 to improve the wireless technology in each school. Digital enhancements provided with these funds would expedite the provision of essential improvements, particularly in older schools where infrastructure does not easily support hardwired devices or broadband connectivity. To contribute online, please visit www.helpdadeschools.com click the donate button, and request that the funds be given to the “Give Kids the World – A World of Technology” program. # # # 12-JS/269/HD |
