With deeply discounted services, classroom technology is more accessible.

It’s easier than ever for schools to make technology more accessible to students, thanks to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) and its Schools and Libraries Program, more commonly known as E-rate.

The program, funded by a required fee that telephone providers pay, is designed to expand schools’ access to affordable telecommunications services with discounts of up to 90 percent.

The Hallsville School District in Hallsville, MO is one of those recipients. The district obtains telephone and fax services from Socket, with a large portion of those monthly fees being reimbursed by USAC.

“We have a lot of phone lines, and E-rate provides a significant cost savings for those services,” said Nan Berkbuegler, who manages the district’s E-rate funding. “That money we save is put right back into educational programs that directly benefit our students.”

Socket works with multiple Missouri schools that participate in the USAC E-rate program. To learn more, visit www.socket.net/E-rate or call 1-800-762-5383.