metro >> Jews in the digital age
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Controversy from page 20
that New York has the largest number
of fervently Orthodox schools, and,
when we started, we were unsure if
the E-rate application process and
rules vary from state to state. It turns
out they don't, but it still made our
lives easier to focus on New York. I
am hoping other journalists will fol-
low our lead and look at E-rate use in
other states with relatively large Jewish
populations.
We spent a lot of time researching
E-rate online, going through various
audits and rulings, and congressional
testimony about it. We also researched
the schools and service providers
online. To learn more about what
goes on inside the schools, we spoke
with the [New York-based] Jewish
Education Project and various alumni
of these schools. Hella has a whole
network of people who have left or
currently live in the community. We
were reluctant to approach the schools
or even the E-rate consultants/USAC
people until very late in the process,
as we were worried someone might tip
off the schools, making it difficult for
us to obtain information, or even, if
there was fraud happening, making a
cover-up easier. Also, the program is
so complicated and confusing that we
wanted to make sure we understood it
well before we interviewed anyone.
What response have you gotten so
far?
JW: Overall the response has been
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March 7 • 2013
very positive. Many of our readers are
horrified that this is happening and
concerned about this community —
which doesn't even use the Internet
— getting tens of millions of dollars
that other schools might make better
use of. Assuming that at least some of
this money is being misused — and it
is hard for me to imagine it is not —
this is hardly a victimless crime: USAC
denied over $2 billion in requests last
year, and for the past few years only
the highest-poverty schools have been
eligible for Priority 2 services — con-
nections that make it possible to bring
the Internet into individual class-
rooms. Also, the money comes from a
tax that we all pay into — the Universal
Service Fund.
We've certainly gotten a number of
angry comments from the ultra-Ortho-
dox community — mostly along the
lines of "Why are you always picking on
the ultra-Orthodox?" and "Why put this
in the papers rather than just notify-
ing the authorities?" There have been
very few substantive critiques from the
ultra-Orthodox as no one has explained
why these schools need such costly tech
services or how they are using things.
Yes, E-rate can be used for some non-
Internet expenses, but the fact is that
these schools are billing a lot of money
for the Internet, too, and some have
spent millions of dollars over the years.
I find it interesting that none of these
schools or service providers will talk to
us, that there is no effort to show that
they have the equipment they've billed
E-rate for and how they are using it to
benefit their students. Also, we live in
a democracy, and the public has a right
to know how tax dollars are being spent,
particularly nowadays when government
coffers are stretched so thin.
Do you think there is fraud?
JW: I have to be careful here, because
I don't want to be accused of slander or
libel. However, I think that, at the very
least, something inappropriate is hap-
pening. It makes no sense why schools
that don't give students access to the
Internet — or even, in many cases com-
puters — are disproportionately ben-
efiting from this program, particularly
when there are other schools whose
needs are not being met. I am also puz-
zled as to why the USAC and the FCC
have allowed this to go on for so long.
I should note that I doubt that, if
there is fraud, the money is enriching
individuals or going to fund luxuries
— my guess is that it is sustaining the
fervently Orthodox community, which
is financially struggling because indi-
viduals have very large families and
don't see public school as an option;
most receive minimal secular educa-
tion or career training, and many men
study full-time rather than work. While
I sympathize with their need for money,
it is not fair to ask the government to
subsidize this lifestyle. If they invested
in secular education or even considered
enrolling in public schools, and if they
encouraged people to pursue the train-
ing necessary for modern careers, they
would be in a very different situation.
What do you hope will come of this
article?
JW: I hope FCC and USAC investigate
this matter and seriously audit these
institutions — both the service provid-
ers and the schools. I also think it's
important for the public to be aware of
the E-rate program — something that
is little-known outside the circles of IT
people at schools — and the Universal
Service Fund, particularly at a time
when all tax dollars are being increas-
ingly scrutinized.
The Jewish Week's three-part story on
E-Rate and the Ultra-Orthodox schools
in New York begins at http://bit.ly/
XLql2o. ❑
Rabbi Jason Miller is a local educator and
writer. He is president of Access Computer
Technology. Follow him on Twitter at
@RabbiJason.