E-Rate News

USAC Funding Status - FY 2009 & FY 2010
E-rate funding waves for the week of July 23, 2010 are scheduled as follows:
1. FY 2010: Wave 10 July 27th will include requests for approved priority two (internal connections & maintenance) requests at 90%. Commitments to date-$947 million.
2. FY 2009: Wave 60 July 21st. Priority two (internal connections and basic maintenance) funding at 78% and above; denying 69% and below. Commitments to date-just under $2.74 billion.
Kellogg & Sovereign Posts Comments to FCC E-Rate NPRM (07/09/2010).
See:KSLLC_NPRM_Comments 100709.pdf (KSLLC Comments submitted in response to FCC's E-Rate Notice of Proposed Rulemaking)
WCB Announces $900 Mil Carryover of Unused funds to E-Rate FY 2010 (07/01/2010).
See:DA-10-1243A1.pdf -FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau Public Notice July 1, 2010
FCC Announces Deadline of July 9, 2010 for Submission of Comments on various E-Rate items (06/09/2010).
Comments must be submitted by July 9, 2010 and Reply comments must be submitted by July 26,2010 for the following:
Comments may be submitted on FCC's website by following their instructions: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs. Be sure to reference the correct proceeding numbers: CC Docket No. 02-6 and GN Docket No. 09-51. The FCC has asked that parties combined their comments for all items into one comment filing and one reply comment filing. Refer to the notice below for paper filing instructions. For details see:FCC announces comment period
FCC Releases "Erate 2011 NPRM" requesting comments on the Federal E-Rate Program(05/20/10).
Washington, D.C. - On May 20, 2010, the FCC took further steps toward ensuring universal access to affordable, high-quality broadband by proposing updates to the highly successful E-Rate universal service program. Comments to the FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) will be due 30 days from the publication in the Federal Register. For further details see:

FCC Gives School E-Rate Programs more Flexibility to Allow Community Use of Broadband Services (02/18/10).
Washington D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission on 2/18/10 adopted an order that enables schools that receive funding from the E-rate program to allow members of the general public to use the schools’ Internet access during non-operating hours. The FCC also seeks comments on making a permanent ruling to allow for public use of underutilized services and equipment. For full details see:
- Press Release (02/18/2010)
- FCC Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Underutilized Services (02/18/2010)
FCC releases E-Rate 2010-11 Eligible Services List and Request for Comments on Eligibility of E-Rate Items.(12/02/09).
Click on the following to download the full text:
- 2010 Eligible Services List (07/31/2009)
- FCC 09-105 Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Eligible Services (12/02/2009)
E-Rate Family Income Survey updated for 2009-10 school year. The survey has been updated with the most recent income eligibility tables released April, 2009 by NSLP for the 2009-10 school year. Use these surveys for E-Rate FY 2010-11 if you are using the alternative discount mechanism. For further details see: Income Survey for Erate FY 2010-11.
Broadband Data Improvement Act (S. 1492) signed by President Bush 10/10/08. On September 30, 2008 Congress passed, as part of S. 1492, an update to the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) which requires schools participating in the E-Rate program to educate students regarding appropriate behavior on social networking and chat room sites about cyberbullying. As a result, schools will need to update their Internet Acceptable Use Policy to state that it is "educating minors about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking websites and in chat rooms and cyberbullying awareness and response." GovTrack.us. S. 1492--110th Congress (2007): Broadband Data Improvement Act, GovTrack.us (database of federal legislation) http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-1492 (Sec. 215, accessed Oct 14, 2008)
OnLine Tech Plan Creator© can be used for preparing your district's 2011-2014 technology plan. This online technology planning tool will assist you in writing your plan and allow you to make sure your district's plan is aligned to E-Rate and NCLB requirements. Don't forget to submit your plan for approval by your state department of education. All plans covering E-Rate FY 2011-12 must be approved by July 1, 2011.
See: Technology Planning
Schools & Libraries News Briefs
E-Rate Central News of the Week
E-Rate Funding Commitments are released in "Waves" usually on a weekly basis beginning in May prior to the start of each funding year. Commitments can be viewed on the SLD Web Site: E-Rate Funding Waves