Purpose, Findings And Legislative Intent — Definitions

TITLE 33 EDUCATION CHAPTER 56 EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY RESOURCE ACT 33-5602. purpose, findings and legislative intent — definitions. (1) The purpose of this act is to establish a resource for Idaho’s education and library system in providing broadband, wireless local area network (LAN) and related services to students. The legislature finds that Idaho benefits from a consistent and adequate bandwidth connection to and between its districts and schools, inclusive of grades K through 12, and to its libraries. It is the intent of the legislature that: (a)  State resources be made available to support Idaho’s E-rate eligible entities with technical, E-rate, security, contracting and procurement guidance, and funding distribution; (b)  E-rate eligible entities shall have the ability to collaborate regionally and intrastate for broadband and related services; (c)  Districts shall have the ability to collaborate regionally and intrastate for wireless LAN services; and (d)  E-rate eligible entities apply for and pursue, in good faith, E-rate funding. (2)  As used in this chapter: (a)  "Districts" means Idaho public schools grades K through 12, the Idaho digital learning academy, the Idaho department of juvenile corrections’ education programs and the school for the deaf and the blind. (b)  "E-rate" means the schools and libraries program of the universal service fund that is administered by the universal service administrative company under the direction of the federal communications commission. (c)  "E-rate eligible entities" means Idaho public schools grades K through 12, the Idaho digital learning academy, the Idaho department of juvenile corrections education programs, the school for the deaf and the blind and the Idaho public libraries.