The deadline for the Technology Grants is fast approaching! Be sure to remind your community's schools about FRED's Technology Grant Program, sponsored by RTFC. The grants are available for schools interested in updating their technology and introducing new teaching methods to enhance the learning process.

The grants range from $1,000 to $10,000 and a total of $50,000 is available in 2009. Help your community by telling local schools about the program. Send them this FRED Technology Grant link to view the brochure. The Technology Grant deadline is September 14, 2009.

Help your local school or community receive an Ethyl Grant up to $2,500. The Ethyl Grant program was created seven years ago to help improve OPASTCO member communities. The grants range from $250 to $2,500 and are sponsored by Nortel Networks and Bennet & Bennet, PLLC. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis year-round. Send in your application today for consideration in the next round of the review process in late summer.

In 2010, FRED will provide an opportunity for students from rural communities to travel to Washington D.C. For a week, the students will learn about the government, civic affairs and telecommunications regulations. Students will have the chance to tour historic landmarks, attend seminars, and meet members of Congress, staffers, journalists and other Capitol Hill professionals. The program is open to high school juniors and seniors who live, or attend a high school, in an area that is served by an OPASTCO telephone company member. The 2010 program will take place in April.

FRED is looking for companies who would like to support the Leadership Through Learning program in 2010. If you are an Associate Member interested in being a co-sponsor for this program, please contact Melissa Korzuch.

Don't forget to order your copy of FRED's 2009 Small Telecommunications Compensation & Benefits Survey. The publication contains information on over 65 jobs and benefit areas. The cost of the survey varies by company membership in OPASTCO and participation in the survey.

CoBank and FRED are pleased to offer the 2009 TELERGEE Benchmark Survey, which includes 2008 year-end financial data from over 200 rural Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs) nationwide. All participants in the study are clients of TELERGEE member CPA firms. Each TELERGEE firm supplies the financial statements that go into producing the benchmarks presented in the study. The study presents four classifications of ILECs:
- Cooperatives on cost study
- Cooperatives on average schedule
- Corporations on cost study
- Corporations on average schedule
The study is available only in PDF format this year.

Technology Grants for Rural Schools Deadline:
September 14, 2009
OPASTCO Winter Convention in San Diego:
January 24 - 28, 2010
Next FRED Fundraising Event:
January 25, 2010