The Great Falls Public Schools board approved wide area network fiber connection and firewall E-Rate bids during their March 10 meeting.

E-Rate, formally the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Program, helps schools and libraries get telecommunications and internet access at affordable rates.

The Federal Communication Commission adopted the E-rate Modernization Order in 2014, focusing on expanding funding for wired and Wi-Fi networks in elementary and secondary schools and libraries so that broadband needs can be met in today’s world of interactive, individualized digital learning, according to GFPS.

In 2020, the FCC revised the rules and secured funding for the next five years.

GFPS currently qualifies for an 80 percent discount on eligible equipment and services purchased upon application approval and availability of funding. The discount is calculated each year and is dependent on the number of students eligible for the National School Lunch Program.

The E-rate program requires applicants to follow a formal process for open and fair competitive bidding.

The GFPS wide area network is the fiber connection between all district locations and was installed with E-Rate funding in 2021.

The board’s action during their March 10 meeting accepts a bid for a three-year fiber connection renewal.

GFPS received three bids and selected Wan Rack, the district current provider.

School board members had no questions about the contract and there was no public comment.

The accepted bid includes a cost of $5,004.80 monthly paid through E-Rate, and a $1,251,20 monthly fee paid by GFPS through the technology fund.

The board also unanimously approved the purchase of a new firewall as the existing one, which is the primary point for GFPS cybersecurity, is at the end of its life.

The district used the E-Rate program for the firewall and had seven bids.

The selected bid is for a $40,425.94 firewall, in which 80 percent, or $32,340.75 will be funded through E-Rate, and the GFPS portion is 20 percent, or $8,085.19, funded through the technology fund.