1997 Minnesota Statutes

     124C.74 Telecommunication access grant and statewide 
  coordination. 

    Subdivision 1.    Establishment; purpose.  The purpose 
 of developing a statewide school district telecommunications 
 network is to expand the availability of a broad range of 
 courses and degrees to students throughout the state, to share 
 information resources to improve access, quality, and 
 efficiency, to improve learning, and distance cooperative 
 learning opportunities, and to promote the exchange of ideas 
 among students, parents, teachers, media generalists, 
 librarians, and the public.  In addition, through the 
 development of this statewide telecommunications network 
 emphasizing cost-effective, competitive connections, all 
 Minnesotans will benefit by enhancing access to 
 telecommunications technology throughout the state.  Network 
 connections for school districts and public libraries will be 
 coordinated and fully integrated into the existing state 
 telecommunications and interactive television networks to 
 achieve comprehensive and efficient interconnectivity of school 
 districts and libraries to higher education institutions, state 
 agencies, other governmental units, agencies, and institutions 
 throughout Minnesota.  A school district may apply to the 
 commissioner for a grant under subdivision 2, and a regional 
 public library may apply under subdivision 3.  The Minnesota 
 education telecommunication council established in Laws 1995, 
 First Special Session chapter 3, article 12, section 7, shall 
 establish priorities for awarding grants, making grant awards, 
 and being responsible for the coordination of networks. 

    Subd. 2.    School district telecommunications grant.  
 (a) A school district may apply for a grant under this 
 subdivision to:  (1) establish connections among school 
 districts, and between school districts and the MNet statewide 
 telecommunications network administered by the department of 
 administration under section 16B.465; or (2) if such a 
 connection meeting minimum electronic connectivity standards is 
 already established, enhance telecommunications capacity for a 
 school district.  The minimum standards of capacity are a 56 
 kilobyte data line and 768 kilobyte ITV connection, subject to 
 change based on the recommendations by the Minnesota education 
 telecommunications council.  A district may submit a grant 
 application for interactive television with higher capacity 
 connections in order to maintain multiple simultaneous 
 connections.  To ensure coordination among school districts, a 
 school district must submit its grant application to the council 
 through an organization that coordinates the applications and 
 connections of at least ten school districts or through an 
 existing technology cooperative.  

    (b) The application must, at a minimum, contain information 
 to document for each applicant school district the following: 

    (1) that the proposed connection meets the minimum 
 standards and employs an open network architecture that will 
 ensure interconnectivity and interoperability with other 
 education institutions and libraries; 

    (2) that the proposed connection and system will be 
 connected to MNet through the department of administration under 
 section 16B.465 and that a network service and management 
 agreement is in place; 

    (3) that the proposed connection and system will be 
 connected to the higher education telecommunication network and 
 that a governance agreement has been adopted which includes 
 agreements between the school district system, a higher 
 education regional council, libraries, and coordinating 
 entities; 

    (4) the telecommunication vendor, which may be MNet, 
 selected to provide service from the district to an MNet hub or 
 to a more cost-effective connection point to MNet; and 

    (5) other information, as determined by the commissioner in 
 consultation with the education telecommunications council, to 
 ensure that connections are coordinated, meet state standards 
 and are cost-effective, and that service is provided in an 
 efficient and cost-effective manner. 

    (c) A grant applicant shall obtain a grant proposal for 
 network services from MNet.  If MNet is not selected as the 
 vendor, the application must provide the reasons for choosing an 
 alternative vendor.  A school district may include, in its grant 
 application, telecommunications access for collaboration with 
 nonprofit arts organizations for the purpose of educational 
 programs, or access for a secondary media center that:  (1) is a 
 member of a multitype library system; (2) is open during periods 
 of the year when classroom instruction is occurring; and (3) has 
 licensed school media staff on site. 

    (d) The Minnesota education telecommunications council 
 shall award grants and the funds shall be dispersed by the 
 commissioner.  The highest priority for these grants shall be to 
 bring school districts up to the minimum connectivity standards. 
 A grant to enhance telecommunications capacity beyond the 
 minimum connectivity standards shall be no more than 75 percent 
 of the maximum grant under this subdivision.  Grant applications 
 for minimum connection and enhanced telecommunications capacity 
 grants must be submitted to the commissioner by a coordinating 
 organization including, but not limited to, service cooperatives 
 and education districts.  For the purposes of the grant, a 
 school district may include a charter school under section 
 120.064, or the Faribault academies.  Based on the award made by 
 the council, all grants under this subdivision shall be paid by 
 the commissioner directly to a school district (unless this 
 application requests that the funds be paid to the coordinating 
 agency).  Nonpublic schools as defined in section 237.065, 
 subdivision 2, located within the district may access the 
 network.  The nonpublic school is responsible for actual costs 
 for connection from the school to the access site. 

    (e) Money awarded under this section may be used only for 
 the purposes explicitly stated in the grant application. 

    Subd. 3.    Regional library telecommunication grant.  
 (a) A regional public library system may apply for a 
 telecommunication access grant.  The grant must be used to 
 create or expand the capacity of electronic data access and 
 connect the library system with the MNet statewide 
 telecommunications network administered by the department of 
 administration under section 16B.465.  Connections must meet 
 minimum system standards of a 56 kilobyte data line and 768 
 kilobyte ITV connection.  To be eligible for a 
 telecommunications access grant, a regional public library 
 system must:  (1) meet the level of local support required under 
 section 134.34; and (2) be open at least 20 hours per week. 

    (b) Any grant award under this subdivision may not be used 
 to substitute for any existing local funds allocated to provide 
 electronic access, or equipment for library staff or the public, 
 or local funds previously dedicated to other library operations. 

    (c) An application for a regional public library 
 telecommunications access grant must, at a minimum, contain 
 information to document the following: 

    (1) that the connection meets the minimum standards and 
 employs an open network architecture that will ensure 
 interconnectivity and interoperability with other libraries and 
 the educational system; 

    (2) that the connection is being established through the 
 most cost-effective means and that the public library has 
 explored and coordinated connections through school districts or 
 other governmental agencies; 

    (3) that the proposed connection and system will be 
 connected to MNet through the department of administration under 
 section 16B.465 and that a network service and management 
 agreement is in place; 

    (4) that the proposed connection and system will be 
 connected to the higher education and to the school district 
 telecommunication networks subject to a governance agreement 
 with one or more school districts and a higher education 
 regional council specifying how the system will be coordinated; 

    (5) the telecommunication vendor, which may be MNet, 
 selected to provide service from the library to an MNet hub or 
 through a more cost-effective connection point to MNet; and 

    (6) other information, as determined by the commissioner, 
 to ensure that connections are coordinated, meet state 
 standards, are cost-effective, and that service is provided in 
 an efficient and cost-effective manner so that libraries 
 throughout the state are connected in as seamless a manner as 
 technically possible. 

    (d) A grant applicant shall obtain a grant proposal for 
 network services from MNet.  If MNet is not selected as the 
 vendor, the application must provide the reasons for choosing an 
 alternative vendor. 

    Subd. 4.    Award of grants.  The council shall develop 
 application forms and procedures for school district minimum 
 connectivity grants, enhanced telecommunications grants, and 
 regional library telecommunication access grants.  The council 
 shall select the grant recipient and shall promptly notify any 
 applicant that is found not to be qualified.  The commissioner 
 shall make the grant payments directly to the school district or 
 regional library system.  At the request of the district, the 
 commissioner may make the grant payment directly to the 
 coordinating organization.  If appropriations are insufficient 
 to fund all applications, the commissioner shall first fully 
 fund the minimum connectivity grants.  Unsuccessful applicants 
 may reapply for a grant. 

    HIST: 1Sp1995 c 3 art 12 s 4; 1996 c 412 art 12 s 2,3