Is your school getting your E-rate money??? Check! If not, you probably should get it to provide broadband to your community. ) If your school is not currently getting E-rate dollars, talk to us. We can either provide some help in getting that set up, or potentially provide a consortium to reach out to a group of schools!

From the FCC website: “The schools and libraries universal service support program, commonly known as the E-rate program, helps schools and libraries to obtain affordable broadband.

Eligible schools, school districts and libraries may apply individually or as part of a consortium.  Funding may be requested under two categories of service: category one services to a school or library (telecommunications, telecommunications services and Internet access), and category two services that deliver Internet access within schools and libraries (internal connections, basic maintenance of internal connections, and managed internal broadband services). Discounts for support depend on the level of poverty and whether the school or library is located in an urban or rural area. The discounts range from 20 percent to 90 percent of the costs of eligible services.  E-rate program funding is based on demand up to an annual Commission-established cap of $4.15 billion.”

And, to make it even better, the FCC has listened to the American Library Association and done some work to make E-rate even easier!

Check out this excerpt for some great information about the upcoming changes.

“A number of ALA’s recommendations were adopted in the final order, which includes changes intended to encourage more libraries to apply for their share of the $4.15 billion program. Changes that will take effect in the 2021 funding year include:

• The funding floor will increase from the initial $9,200 to $25,000, which should make a real difference for small libraries deciding whether to take on the application process.
• There will be a single square-foot formula of $4.50 for all libraries—a significant improvement for small libraries, but short of the $6 that ALA had endorsed for larger libraries.
• The five-year budget cycle will be adjusted for inflation at the start of each five-year period rather than every year.
• The budget will be made at the library system (and school district) level instead of at the individual library branch.

In addition to PPAO, member leaders on ALA’s E-Rate Task Force and others contributed to policy formation on this issue. ALA Senior Policy Fellow Bob Bocher has aided E-Rate policy development both for ALA and for his home state of Wisconsin through his work with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The FCC appointed Bocher to the board of the Schools and Libraries Committee of Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), which administers the E-Rate program. Bocher’s second term on the USAC board is ending, and ALA has recommended the FCC appoint Amber Gregory, current coordinator of E-Rate services with Arkansas State Library and chair of the E-Rate Task Force, to succeed him.

As libraries continually make upgrades to meet the ever-increasing demands on their Wi-Fi, ALA is working with federal regulators and local libraries to ensure the E-Rate program works. For more information about the E-Rate program, visit USAC’s website. To learn more about how to apply for E-Rate funding for your library, contact your state’s E-Rate coordinator.”

Get your money! Provide great services! It’s kind of the whole mission of a library! (Call us if you need help!)