§  54.508   Technology plans.

   (a) Applicants must develop a technology plan when requesting discounts
   for internal connections and basic maintenance for internal
   connections. Applicants must document the date on which the technology
   plan was created. The technology plan must include the following
   elements:

   (1) A clear statement of goals and a realistic strategy for using
   telecommunications and information technology to improve education or
   library services;

   (2) A professional development strategy to ensure that the staff
   understands how to use these new technologies to improve education or
   library services;

   (3) An assessment of the telecommunication services, hardware,
   software, and other services that will be needed to improve education
   or library services; and

   (4) An evaluation process that enables the school or library to monitor
   progress toward the specified goals and make mid-course corrections in
   response to new developments and opportunities as they arise.

   (b) Relevance of approval under Enhancing Education through Technology.
   Technology plans that meet the standards of the U.S. Department of
   Education's Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT), 20 U.S.C.
   6764, are sufficient for satisfying paragraphs (a)(1) through (4) of
   this section. Furthermore, to the extent that the U.S. Department of
   Education adopts future technology plan requirements that require one
   or more of the four elements described in paragraph (a) of this
   section, such plans will be acceptable for satisfying those elements of
   paragraph (a) of this section. Applicants with such plans will only
   need to supplement such plans with the analysis needed to satisfy those
   elements of paragraph (a) of this section not covered by the future
   Department of Education technology plan requirements.

   (c) Timing of certification. As required under § § 54.503(c)(2)(iii)
   and 54.504(a)(1)(iv), applicants must certify that they have prepared
   any required technology plans. They must also confirm, in FCC Form 486,
   that their plan was approved before they began receiving services
   pursuant to it.

   (d) Parties qualified to approve technology plans required in this
   subpart. Applicants required to prepare and obtain approval of
   technology plans under this subpart must obtain such approval from
   either their state, the Administrator, or an independent entity
   approved by the Commission or certified by the Administrator as
   qualified to provide such approval. All parties who will provide such
   approval must apply the standards set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b)
   of this section.

   [ 75 FR 75415 , Dec. 3, 2010]