Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Form 990, Part III, Line 2 | PRETC relocated management to Independence, Oregon, and established new philanthropic initiatives under the name Oregon Raindrop Fund (ABN #1985537-95; www.oregonraindrop.org).Oregon Raindrop Fund envisions a socially equitable and just world, with an empowered, well-informed public, actively engaged in a thriving democracy. In particular, through the Progress Initiative we provide grants to progressive causes, organizations, and leaders that realize meaningful impacts toward economic and social justice. Grantmaking includes support for fair and just participation in the democratic process. Support for civic engagement efforts focused on voter registration, education, and mobilization. Support to identify, develop, and elect political leaders who are committed to progressive issues. And, support for grassroots advocacy and outreach that realizes meaningful impacts on a wide range of progressive issues. |
| Form 990, Part III, Line 3 | In FY23 (April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023), PRETC officially exited EBS Support Services LLC (dba Voqal), which provided management and philanthropy services out of Longmont, Colorado, and provided a branding umbrella (Voqal), which allowed PRETC to work under the name Voqal Portland. In FY23, PRETC exited Mobile Citizen LLC and ceased the deployment of mobile broadband accounts through this company. In its place, Oregon Raindrop Fund began to explore a philanthropic initiative, called the Digital Divide Initiative, to grant mobile broadband accounts to communities in need throughout Oregon. The Digital Divide Initiative remained in very preliminary stages of development through FY23. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b | THE 990 IS REVIEWED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S ACCOUNTANTS, CHIEF FINANCIAL ADVISOR, AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. ADDITIONALLY, THE FORM IS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD MEMBERS AFTER IT IS FILED. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c | EACH RESPONSIBLE PERSON WHO IS A DIRECTOR OR OFFICER HAS A DUTY TO DISCLOSE TO THE BOARD (OR TO ANY COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD THAT IS CONSIDERING A DECISION TO WHICH THE CONLFLICT APPLIED) THE MATERIAL FACTS OF ANY PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR ACTION OF THE ORGANIZATION IN WHICH SUCH RESPONSIBLE PERSON HAS ANY CONFLICTS.EACH RESPONSIBLE PERSON WHO IS A STAFF MEMBER, HAS A DUTY TO DISCLOSE TO THE MANAGER AND SUPERVISOR THE MATERIAL FACTS OF ANY PROPOSED TRANSACTION OF THE ORGANIZATION IN WHICH SUCH A PERSON HAS ANY CONFLICT. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY RELIES ON SUCH DISCLOSURE. A RESPONSIBLE PERSON WHO FAILS TO FOLLOW THE PROTOCOLS ESTABLISHED IN THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY SHALL BE SUBJECTED TO MEANINGFUL DISCIPLINARY ACTION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UP TO AND INCLUDING REMOVAL FROM THE BOARD OR THEIR POSITION WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. |
| Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 | THE ORGANIZATION DOES NOT MAKE ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. |
| Form 990, Part XI, Line 9 | 1120-POL = -$17850 |
| ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | BACKGROUNDTHESE ADDITIONAL, VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURES ARE INTENDED TO GIVE THE INTERESTED READER INSIGHT INTO PORTLAND REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION (PRETC).ON BEHALF OF A NUMBER OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, VOQAL PORTLAND'S PRESIDENT, JOHN SCHWARTZ, LED AN EFFORT TO APPLY FOR WHAT WERE THEN REFERRED TO AS INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION FIXED SERVICE (ITFS) LICENSES FORM THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMISSION. THOSE APPLICATIONS WERE ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED IN THE EARLY 1980S. MR. SCHWARTZ BELIEVED THAT SEPERATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WITH LOCAL BOARDS OF DIRECTORS WOULD BETTER SERVE THE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES COVERED BY THESE LICENSES. IN THE END, FIVE NONPROFITS LED BY MR. SCHWARTZ APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 11 ITFS LICENSES. TODAY, JOHN SCHWARTZ REMAINS ON THE BOARD OF TWO OF THOSE FIVE NONPROFITS, WHICH ARE FORMALLY KNOW AS THE VOQAL NONPROFITS. PRETC IS ONE OF THOSE FIVE.FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES, PRETC PROVIDED FREE EDUCATIONAL VIDEO PROGRAMMING TO SCHOOLS VIA ITS FCC-LICENSED ITFS STATIONS. WHILE DOING SO, IT SHARED SOME OF ITS OVERHEAD AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS WITH THE OTHER FOUR NONPROFITS, WHICH WERE PROVIDING WERE SIMILAR SERVIVCE TO THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THIS APPROACH RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS, ALLOWING PRETC TO DELIVER A BETTER EDUCATIONAL SERVICE. THE SHARING OF PERSONNEL AND OTHER RESOURCES AMONG THE NONPROFITS WAS THE BEGINNING OF WHAT WOULD LATER BECOME EBS SUPPORT SERVICES, LLC (EBSSS) THE UMBRELLA SERVICE ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDED PERSONNEL AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TO ALL FIVE VOQAL NONPROFITS UNTIL FY 22.TO EXPAND THEIR ABILITY TO FULFILL ITS EDUCATIONAL MISSION AND OTHERWISE BENEFIT THE PUBLIC, THE NONPROFITS ENTERED INTO VARIOUS SPECTRUM USE AGREEMENTS WITH COMMERCIAL FIRMS TO USE THEIR ITFS, AND LATER, EDUCATIONAL BROADBAND SERVICE (EBS) EXCESS SPECTRUM CAPACITY IN THEIR WIRELESS NETWORKS. IN EXCHANGE, THESE AGREEMENTS PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL BENEFITS THROUGH SPECTRUM ROYALTY PAYMENTS, AS WELL AS MATERIAL IN-KIND EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS SUCH AS HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND INTERNET ACCOUNTS. THE NONPROFITS' CURRENT SPECTRUM AGREEMENTS ARE CLEARWIRE SPECTRUM HOLDINGS II, LLC, A SPRINT SUBSIDIARY WHO MERGED WITH T-MOBILE IN APRIL 2020 (HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS T-MOBILE).WITH THE INCREASED RESOURCES AFFORDED BY THESE MOST RECENT SPECTRUM AGREEMENTS, THE VOQAL NONPROFITS, INCLUDING PRETC, EXPANDED THE NUMBER AND REACH OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO INCLUDE NEW EDUCATION VENTURES, AFFORABLE INTERNET SERVICE FOR SCHOOLS AND NONPROFITS, CASH GRANTS, EBS SPECTRUM ADVOCACY AND MORE. AS IT EXPANDED, PRETC CONTINUED TO SHARE RESOURCES WITH THE OTHER VOQAL NONPROFITS. IN 2013, TO EXTEND THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE VOQAL NONPROFITS AND TO REDUCE CONFUSION FOR SHARED WORK, EBSSS SECURED THE "VOQAL" TRADEMARK AND THE FIVE NONPROFITS, INCLUDING PRETC, ADOPTED THE VOQAL BRAND. AS OF FY 23, PRETC WAS NOT PART OF THE EBS SUPPORT SERVICES SERVICE AGREEMENT AND WILL NO LONGER USE THE VOQAL PORTLAND NAME.PRETC HAS STRIVED TO FULFILL THE MISSION OF EBS, FROM ITS BEGINNINGS PROVIDING FREE, ITFS VIDEO TO SCHOOLS TO RECENT EFFORTS TO SUPPORT CHANGE-MAKERS IN EDUCATION. WHILE SOME PRETC PROGRAMS SERVE WHAT MANY WOULD CONSIDER TRADITIONAL EDUCATIONAL ENTITIES LIKE K-12 SCHOOLS, PRETC EMBRACES A BROADER VIEW OF EDUCATION AND AIMS TO ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE TO FOSTER A STRONGER, HEALTHIER DEMOCRACY. OUR PROJECTS ARE OFTEN AIMED AT THE ROOT CAUSES THAT BAR ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE BOTH IN AND OUT OF TRADITIONAL BRICK AND MORTAR INSTITUTIONS. EXAMPLES OF MORE TRADITIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS INCLUDE PROVIDING SCHOOLS WITH FREE AND HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED INTERNET ACCOUNTS AND MOBILE CITIZEN'S EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET BOTH AT SCHOOL AND AT HOME. IN ADDITION, PRETC IS PROUD TO BE A FUNDER OF CRASH COURSE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS. CRASH COURSE IS AN EDUCATIONAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL FEATURING 10-MINUTE VIDEOS THAT CONDENSE COMPLEX TOPICS INTO QUIRKY, ENGAGING TUTORIALS. CRASH COURSE'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL HAS OVER 8 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS, AND THE VIDEOS ARE SHOWN IN CLASSROOMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AS WELL AS WATCHED BY THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.IN ADDITION TO THE PROJECTS LISTED ABOVE, PRETC IS PART OWNER OF THE LLCS DETAILED BELOW.MOBILE CITIZEN, LLC (PREVIOUSLY OWNED IN PART 3.480% BY VOQAL PORTLAND AND EXITED DURING FY23) IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE VOQAL NONPROFITS' CURRENT SPECTRUM AGREEMENTS AND THE BROADBAND INTERNET ACCOUNTS RECEIVED AS PART OF THOSE AGREEMENTS. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF PROVIDING INTERNET SERVICE INDIVIDUALLY, THE VOQAL NONPROFITS FORMED MOBILE CITIZEN, LLC TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF SOME OR ALL OF ITS OWNERS' BROADBAND ACCOUNTS. MOBILE CITIZEN, LLC SERVES SCHOOLS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCIES AND HAS FOCUSED MUCH OF ITS EFFORT IN BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.MOBILE CITIZEN OFFERS ONE OF THE LOWEST COST MOBILE BROADBAND RATE PLANS AVAILABLE TO SCHOOLS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCIES NATIONWIDE, WITH NO DATA CAPS. MOBILE CITIZEN WIRELESS BROADBAND SERVICE COSTS APPROXIMATELY ONE-FIFTH THE AMOUNT OF ITS COMMERCIAL EQUIVALENTS AND IS PROVIDED FREE IN SOME CASES. IN THE PORTLAND METRO AREA, MOBILE CITIZEN SERVES SCHOOLS AND NONPROFITS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES AS DIVERSE AS WORKFORCE PREPAREDNESS AND FREE COMPUTER TRAINING AND ACCESS PROGRAMS. THE MONEY THESE ORGANIZATIONS SAVE ON THE INTERNET WITH MOBILE CITIZEN ALLOWS THEM TO PUT THOSE DOLLARS TO USE FULFILLING THEIR ORGANIZATION'S MISSION.ANOTHER BENEFIT OF THE SPECTRUM AGREEMENT WITH T-MOBILE IS THE ABILITY, THROUGH CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT, TO ADD ADDITIONAL SPECTRUM AND THUS HELP MAXIMIZE THE EDUCATION POTENTIAL OF OTHER LICENSES. INDEPENDENT SPECTRUM, LLC (OWNED IN PART 9.1% BY PRETC IN FY 22 AND OWNERSHIP WAS ENTIRELY SOLD IN FY 23) WAS FORMED TO DO JUST THAT. INDEPENDENT SPECTRUM ACCOMPLISHED THIS TASK IN ONE OF TWO WAYS: 1) THE DIRECT PURCHASE AND TRANSFER OF AN EBS LICENSE TO AN INDEPENDENT SPECTRUM SUBSIDIARY AND SUBSEQUENT SPECTRUM USE AGREEMENT WITH T-MOBILE; OR 2) A SPECTRUM USE AGREEMENT WITH THE EBS LICENSEE AND SUBLICENSE OF SPECTRUM RIGHTS TO T-MOBILE. THROUGHT THE 26 INDEPENDENT SPECTRUM SUBSIDIARIES FORMED TO-DATE, INDEPENDENT SPECTRUM HAS BEEN ABLE TO PASS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL AND FINANCIAL BENEFITS TO 39 EBS LICENSES. THIS "STRENGTH IN NUMBERS" APPROACH ALLOWS EBS LICENSE HOLDERS TO GAIN OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THEIR SPECTRUM THAT THEY WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO SECURE DEALING WITH COMMERCIAL OPERATORS ON THEIR OWN. PRETC DIVESTED ITS SHARE OF INDEPENDENT SPECTRUM IN FY23. |
| Software ID: | 22015553 |
| Software Version: | 2022v5.0 |