How to save on telecommunications costs. (District plus: tips and ideas for successful district leadership).School districts can save up to 40 percent on their telephone bills by joining the American TelEd Communications Alliance. Annual dues are $75. The alliance negotiates with AT&T, Sprint, Qwest and other carriers for reduced rates on long distance and local phone service, Internet access See how to access the Internet. , wireless networking See wireless network. equipment and Web hosting Making a Web site available on the Internet. Many ISPs host a few personal Web pages for an individual at no additional cost above the monthly service fee, but the address is subordinate to the ISP; for example, www.friendlyisp.com/pat_smith. . Long distance, which can cost a school district as much as 9 cents per minute, can drop to 1.5 cents per minute through alliance membership, notes John Rathje, president of operations. The alliance not only helps administrators save money, but time. "Because we go through a precise procurement The fancy word for "purchasing." The procurement department within an organization manages all the major purchases. process, institutions have been able to avoid their own bid process," says Rathje. The alliance, which is a partnership between the Michigan Collegiate col·le·giate adj. 1. Of, relating to, or held to resemble a college. 2. Of, for, or typical of college students. 3. Of or relating to a collegiate church. Telecommunications Association and four interstate education groups, was originally set up to help colleges and universities save money. It was expanded to include K-12 members last year. |
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