December 2005 Announcements

Please click on the topic below to view the most recent announcements:

The special Hurricane Katrina window for schools, libraries, and consortia is currently open and will close at 11:59 pm ET on December 13, 2005.

Applicants affected by Hurricane Katrina are eligible to participate in a special application window that will provide additional funds to certain schools and libraries through the end of Funding Year 2005. Schools and libraries directly affected by Hurricane Katrina are: (1) eligible for a 90% discount on Internal Connections requests for Funding Years 2005 and 2006; (2) may request additional funding for 2005 to bring them back to pre-Katrina levels of functionality; (3) may request broad service substitutions; and (4) may qualify for a waiver of the 2-in-5 Rule for Internal Connections. Schools and libraries “directly affected” by Hurricane Katrina are defined as both located in counties and parishes eligible for FEMA individual disaster assistance and having incurred substantial damage as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Schools and libraries serving evacuees that received at least a 10% increase in their population, also known as “indirectly affected” entities, are also eligible for certain relief that must be requested during this window. For more information, visit USAC’s Hurricane Katrina Universal Service Fund Relief Information site at http://katrina-usf.org/katrina/default.asp and click under Schools and Libraries.

The December 1, 2005, edition of the Schools & Libraries News Brief provides you with valuable information on applying for discounts on eligible services for Funding Year 2006 (July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007) from the Universal Service Schools and Libraries Program. It has been compiled to offer you highlights of the most up-to-date information to assist you in submitting a successful application. The letter contains important dates for Funding Year 2006. Follow this link to the Letter to the Field.