Promoting Broadband for Anchor Institutions
and their Communities
E-rate
Congress authorized the E-rate program as part of the 1996 Telecommunication Act. The FCC created the program to increase access to advanced telecommunications and information services for schools and libraries. Eligible participants include public and most non-profit K-12 schools as well as all public and many private libraries. All program participants must carry out a competitive bidding process to select the most cost-effective companies to provide the goods and/or services requested. Discounts for support depend on the level of poverty and the urban/rural status of the population served and range from 20 percent to 90 percent of the costs of eligible services.
The SHLB Coalition has consistently supported reforms to the E-rate program that shift the focus to high-capacity broadband connections. Several studies document that schools and libraries do not have the affordable, high-capacity broadband connections they need to ensure that students develop technological skills and library patrons can obtain access to essential Internet-based services. We support greater funding for the E-rate program, an increased focus on capital investment, emphasis on affordable rates, increased use of consortia, and giving schools and libraries more options for their broadband services.
SHLB Documents on E-rate Reform 2017-Current
July 16, 2021
SHLB joined with the Consortium on School Networking (CoSN), State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), the State E-rate Coordinators' Alliance (SECA) and the American Library Association (ALA) to request that the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau extend its waiver of gift rules for the E-rate and Rural Health Care programs through June 30, 2022 in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
April 23, 2021
The SHLB Coalition requested that the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau extend 2021 deadlines for implementing special construction projects to June 30, 2022.
April 5, 2021
SHLB made several suggestions to the FCC on how best to implement the $7.171 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund created by the American Rescue Plan Act.
March 17, 2021
The SHLB Coalition and the Open Technology Institute spoke with the FCC in support of their petition for schools and libraries to use E-rate funds to connect students off-campus.
February 9, 2021
SHLB spoke with the Wireline Competition Bureau regarding the E-rate Remote Learning Petition.
January 26, 2021
The SHLB Coalition led several education advocates to petition for schools and libraries to use E-rate funds to connect students off-campus.
January 15, 2021
SHLB and the Wireless Future Project at New America met with the offices of Commissioner Starks and Commissioner Rosenworcel to discuss the FCC's authority to allow greater flexibility to schools and libraries participating in the E-rate program.
August 28, 2020
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the SHLB Coalition asks the FCC to allow schools and libraries to obtain E-rate support for the immediate bandwidth increases they need to handle the explosion of online learning. SHLB also asks the Commission to permit similar measures for Rural Health Care participants, who need support for the expansion of telehealth services.
August 25, 2020
SHLB and the State E-rate Coordinators Alliance re-stated the request that the FCC extend the E-rate and Rural Health Care program gift rule. The filing also asks the Commission to make supplemental funding available for E-rate applicants to augment their existing internet capacity.
August 4, 2020
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the SHLB Coalition, the Consortium for School Networking, and the State Educational Technology Directors Association request that the FCC extend the special waiver allowing E-rate and Rural Health Care participants to accept gifts.
April 27, 2020
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, SHLB urges Congress to provide $5.25 billion in supplemental E-rate funding for off-campus connections.
April 27, 2020
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, SHLB urges Congress to provide $5.25 billion in supplemental E-rate funding for off-campus connections.
April 20, 2020
The SHLB Coalition filed comments in support of petitions from the State E-rate Coordinators Alliance (SECA) and Infinity Communications and Consulting, regarding the E-rate Category Two Order. The SECA petition asks the FCC to reconsider and rescind the cost allocation requirement for shared equipment used by non-instructional facilities. The Infinity petition asks the Commission to reconsider and continue to allow schools to count part-time students in their calculations for Category Two budgets.
January 14, 2020
Thanks to Chairman Pai's leadership, the E-rate competitive bidding process has enabled thousands of schools and libraries to save money on broadband services.
December 16, 2019
The SHLB Coalition expresses its opposition to California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) proposed Resolution T-17666. Shortening the time period to report on reimbursements from the California Teleconnect Fund could prevent anchor institutions from receiving proper reimbursement from the Fund.
July 1, 2019
The SHLB Coalition joins the Consortium for School Networking, CSM Consulting, E-rate Central, Educational Professional Services, Pacific Northwest Gigapop, the Texas Association of School Administrators, the Texas Association of School Boards, the Texas Association of School Business Officials, the Texas Computer Education Association, the Texas K-12 CTO Council, the Utah Education and Telehealth Network, and VST Services in asking the Commission to deny the Petition for Rulemaking filed by the Texas Carriers.
March 18, 2019
SHLB expresses support for the FCC's proposal to waive the E-rate program's amortization requirement.
December 13, 2018
The SHLB Coalition, the State E-rate Coordinators' Alliance, and the Consortium for School Networking request the Wireline Competition Bureau's attention in addressing an issue of concern regarding the E-rate gift rule.
November 2, 2018
To follow up on its Paperwork Reduction Act comments filed with the FCC on July 23, SHLB explains why its proposed changes to FCC Forms 470 and 471 merit further consideration.
October 30, 2018
The SHLB Coalition asks the FCC to continue to suspend the amortization requirement for special construction E-rate applications in FY2019 and thereafter.
July 23, 2018
These comments describe recommendations from members of the SHLB Coalition and the State E-Rate Coordinators Alliance (SECA) to improve FCC Forms 470 and 471.
April 9, 2018
This letter concerns the problematic and inconsistent guidance concerning the drop-down menu and the FY 2018 approach for requesting competitive bids for various Internet access service options.
January 26, 2018
This letter discusses SHLB Members' experience with the processing of fiber special construction requests and offers seven specific recommendations to improve the processing of these complex applications.
November 8, 2017
October 23, 2017
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