Debra Kriete

Debra Kriete has been involved with the E-rate program since Congress enacted the Telecommunications Act of 1996, in February of that year. First serving as a staff member to the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, and later serving as the general counsel to the Schools and Libraries Corporation (now Schools and Libraries Division of USAC), Debra has a passion for E-rate and using the valuable funding to ensure all students and library patrons have access and knowledge to use online resources. Since 2004, she has been the State E-rate Coordinator for South Dakota, and served as the Chairperson of the State E-rate Coordinators’ Alliance since 2019. She also previously served as a board member of SHLB. She has full appreciation of the E-rate program requirements and filing experience, and regularly works with other stakeholders to prepare recommendations to improve the E-rate program.