WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) announces that Maine schools, libraries and school administrative districts will share $417,270.76 in funding discounts under the E-Rate program, which she and Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) authored as part of the 1996 Telecommunications Act.

The announcement is part of the sixth year of E-Rate funding for schools and libraries in Maine and nationally during the coming months. Since the program began in 1998, Maine has received more than $27 million.

The E-Rate provides discounts of between 20 and 90 percent to schools and libraries, depending on their resources and needs, for the cost of education technology. The funding represents the discounts schools will receive for specific telecommunications services. The discounts cover the cost of telecommunications, Internet access and internal connections needed to bring information directly into classrooms and libraries.

Area schools, libraries and school administrative districts receiving a funding commitment letter are: Buckfield Junior/Senior High School, $20,314.46; Winthrop High School, $509.40; SAD 15, Gray-New Gloucester, $19,526.64; SAD 17, Oxford Hills, $17,476.51; Union School District 42, Manchester, Mount Vernon, Wayne, Readfield, $13,197.