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<p>If you're one of the early birds who submits their technology plans for the E-Rate program in July or August for the following year, this email is for you.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>It's a very exciting time for E-Rate and changes to the E-Rate program may involve tech plans. Traditionally the Library of Michigan sees a rush of tech plans submitted for the following year (in this case 2015) in July and August of the current year, which
is the earliest that we approve them. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>I'm going to encourage you to hold off on sending in a tech plan at this time for two reasons.<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>First, we don't know if there will be changes to tech plan requirements vis a vis which products or services you are seeking a discount for. Currently, a technology plan is only required when you are seeking "Priority 2 Funding" (internal connections).
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Second, there's something I want to remind you about in particular this year: language in your goals and strategies section must specifically align to items on your Forms 470 (for instance: "We will improve infrastructure to support greater bandwidth" if
you are applying for Priority 2 funding). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p>It remains the case that libraries must have written their technology plan before filing their Form 470 and have it approved before they file Form 486 or before discounted services begin, whichever comes first.<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Have a great weekend everyone,<br>
Sonya<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Sonya Schryer Norris<br>
<br>
Library Consultant and Plinkit Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Library of Michigan<br>
517-373-4457<br>
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><a href="http://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan"><span style="color:blue">http://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan</span></a><br>
<a href="http://www.mel.org/"><span style="color:blue">http://www.mel.org</span></a><br>
<a href="http://www.michlibrary.org/"><span style="color:blue">http://www.michlibrary.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#31849B">Invest in a child’s future today. Support the MDE Culture of Reading.</span></i><span style="color:#00B050">
</span><a href="http://www.michigan.gov/cultureofreading"><span style="color:blue">www.michigan.gov/cultureofreading</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><img border="0" width="176" height="106" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CF9221.5BE93560" alt="Culture of Reading-A (2)"><o:p></o:p></p>
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