Schools, libraries receive awards> E-rate funds to aid telecommunications

WASHINGTON — Sen. Olympia Snowe has announced $298,974 in funding for 20 Maine school districts and five public libraries under the E-rate program, written by Snowe and Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., as part of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. This is the fifth of several waves of E-rate funding that will be announced for schools and libraries in Maine and nationally during the coming months.

The E-rate provides discounts of between 20 and 90 percent to schools and libraries — depending on resources and needs — for the cost of education technology. The E-rate will provide $1.9 billion in discounts to tens of thousands of schools through June 30, with costs being covered by the Universal Service Fund. The first priority is for telecommunications services and Internet access, and the second is for internal connections and wiring at schools and libraries.

The school districts and libraries in Maine are among 1,086 nationwide being mailed award letters. Thirty thousand applications were completed on behalf of approximately 100,000 schools and libraries nationally, including 461 in Maine.

School districts and public libraries receiving E-rate funding commitment letters this week were: Auburn Public Library, $2,103.75; Camden Public Library, $3,518.86; Denmark Public Library, $261; Etna-Dixmont Elementary School, $7,935.20; Guilford Memorial Library, $3,448;

Houlton Elementary School, $27,209.47; Jay School Department, $2,112; Jefferson Village School, $1,334.97; Libby Elementary School in Milford, $2,025; Littleton Elementary School in Monticello, $19,071.09;

SAD 74 (North Anson), $22,781.25; SAD 24 (Van Buren), $18,240; SAD 29 (Houlton), $17,426.25; SAD 40 (Waldoboro), $38,160; SAD 55 (Hiram), $18,658.51;

SAD 59 (Madison), $956.25; SAD 68 (Dover-Foxcroft), $15,228; Shaw Public Library in Greenville, $279; Southern Portland School District, $35,574; Southside School in Houlton, $28,075.54;

Tremont Consolidated Elementary School in Bass Harbor, $3,150; Washburn District High School, $3,822; Wellington School in Monticello, $15,244.51; and Wiscasset School Department, $5,160.