§  54.508   Technology plans.

   (a) Contents . The technology plans referred to in this subpart must
   include the following five 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;

   (4) A budget sufficient to acquire and support the non-discounted
   elements of the plan: the hardware, software, professional development,
   and other services that will be needed to implement the strategy; and

   (5) 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 Department of
   Education's Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT), 20 U.S.C.
   6764, are sufficient for satisfying paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3)
   and (a)(5) of this section, but applicants must supplement such plans
   with an analysis demonstrating that they meet the budgetary requirement
   described in paragraph (a)(4) of this section. Furthermore, to the
   extent that the Department of Education adopts future technology plan
   requirements that require one or more of the five 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 54.504(b)(2)(vii) and
   (c)(1)(v), 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.

   [ 69 FR 55110 , Sept. 13, 2004;  69 FR 59145 , Oct. 4, 2004]