metro >> Jews in the digital age "Independence is very important to me. I love spending time with my children instead of needing their help." 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 —Fox Run resident Beverly Schwartz Discover an active and worry-free lifestyle at Fox Run, the most popular address for vibrant retirement living in Novi. Maintenance, repairs and 24-hour security are all handled by our expert staff, giving you more opportunity to focus on the things you love to do. A move to Fox Run is a smart decision for you and your family, so take the next step today! Learn more about our vibrant community. Call 1-800-989-0318 today for your free brochure. Add more Living to your Life" Novi 22 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.