Schools and libraries need to begin the E-rate process right away, in order to ensure their participation in the pilot program for Wi-Fi/Category 2 E-rates. Once a school is approved, funding can be applied to projects from July 2016 – September 2017.
“E-rates” is a nineteen year-old Federal program that provides schools and libraries with 20%-90% funding to pay for:
- High-speed internet access
- Local and long-distance service
- Purchase and installation of Wi-Fi infrastructure and equipment:access points, controllers, switches, cabling and more.
Every non-profit elementary and secondary school under $50 million in endowment is eligible.
E-rate funding for high-speed internet ranges from 20%-90%. Almost all private schools receive at least 40% for internet. Funding for Wi-Fi equipment and infrastructure is 20%-85%, with most schools receiving at least 40%.
Wi-Fi funding requires a separate “Category 2” application to be filed and certified – Category 2 includes new equipment, upgrades and basic maintenance of existing systems.
All voice services are being phased out at the rate of 20%/year, for instance: if last year you received 40%, this year you will receive 20%, and next year: zero. This includes cellular, local and long distance, voice over internet protocol (VOIP). This phase-out adversely affects many schools, and refocuses attention on a new direction for the program: classroom connectivity through Wi-Fi. The stated goal of the new FCC and the White House initiative, ConnectED, is to connect every classroom to the internet.
“The ConnectED initiative will, within five years, connect 99 percent of America’s students to next-generation broadband and high-speed wireless in their schools and libraries. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and companies like Apple, Microsoft, Sprint, and Verizon are already providing their support, collectively pledging to connect more than 20 million more students over the next two years.
ConnectED will also provide better broadband access for students in rural areas, by expanding successful efforts to connect parts of the country that typically have trouble attracting investment in broadband infrastructure.” – WhiteHouse.gov
eRateProgram, LLC is happy to provide schools and libraries with a Free, No-Obligation E-rate Benefit Analysis.
We look forward to maximizing your E-rate funding, to achieve maximum connectivity for your students.