Free Money For Schools with E-rate Funding & ElectroMedia

Feb 245 min read

Three teenage students sitting on the stairs between levels of a two story library. There are many shelves lined with books in the background.

ElectroMedia helps you navigate applying for E-rate funding; that saves you time, money and hassle.

The hoops you must go through to access the funding you need isn’t an easy feat, but it’s definitely worth the effort. A bonus is that the E-rate funding for schools, school districts, and libraries can be applied individually or together. E-rate discounts can significantly reduce costs for schools and libraries, especially on structured cabling, wireless access, routers & internet filters. All of these services play a crucial role in providing patrons with reliable access to essential online resources. Eligible services for funding are broken into two types of services:

Category one: services to a school or library (like internet access, routers, firewalls and more)
Category two: services that provide internet access within schools and libraries (like internal connections, basic maintenance, and managed internal broadband services)

When taking advantage of E-rate funding for schools, you must have people with knowledge of the process, or partner with someone like ElectroMedia, to help navigate the entire system. But before jumping too deeply into this article, we’ll lay the groundwork for what E-Rate is and what the specific funding is used for.

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Understanding E-rate and Eligible Services

The program providing E-rate internet access for schools and libraries is a great way to save money on data network electronics and other critical elements of network infrastructure like: structured cabling, wireless access, routers & internet filters.

The FCC recently released the Eligible Services List (ESL) for the funding year 2025, which helps schools and libraries understand what services are covered.

Eligible applicants can receive discounts ranging from 20 percent to 90 percent on services depending on the poverty level and whether it’s in a rural or urban area. The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) runs the program under the direction of the FCC. Their goal is to ensure educational institutions have access to high-speed internet and reliable network access.

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Benefits of E-rate Subsidized Internet Access for Schools

The technology and infrastructure that backs data networks and phone systems for schools has matured in recent years. The constant push to pace the improvements can sometimes be hard to accomplish. With a hosted data network, you can stay up to date with the best features and security concerns while keeping costs low and respecting your budgets.

Seamless communication is crucial for schools and libraries, and with an E-rate eligible system upgrade, you can rest assured knowing you’re doing everything you can for your community.

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The E-rate Funding Process

So, here’s the thing: the ins and outs of E-rate funding for schools take expertise and know-how. Partner with an E-rate specialist like ElectroMedia to ensure you get the most funding and the best network possible. If you do decide to go down the E-rate funding process on your own, here are the steps to complete:

Step 1: Competitive bidding

This process is all about fairness and transparency. The applicant can choose the most affordable provider based on how well they meet the evaluation criteria. The price of the eligible equipment and services is the most important factor in the evaluation process.

Step 2: Selecting service providers

Once you’re done with your bidding, you’ll take a look at all the bids and pick the one that’s the best deal. Feel free to think about anything you want, but the price of the stuff you’re interested in should be the most important. You should probably give it a bit more weight than anything else.

Step 3: Applying for discounts

To apply for Schools and Libraries (E-Rate) program discounts, you must fill out an FCC Form 471. This form will ask you about the services or equipment you want and who will use them. USAC will look at your request, ask for some extra info, and then let you know if you’re approved.

Step 4: Application review

Once you submit and confirm an FCC Form 471 within the filing period, the Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) team at USAC will review your form's details to ensure everything’s in order and accurate. They might also ask you a few questions to clarify anything.

Step 5: Starting services

Once you get your Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) and your services are underway, you’ll need to file an FCC Form 486 with USAC and will need to ensure you’re following the items below:

Services for which you have been approved including acquired discounts, and invoicing can begin.
You are in compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) (or CIPA does not apply because your application is only for telecommunications services)
A USAC-certified Technology Plan Approver has accepted your technology plan if you are required to have one.

Step 6: Invoicing

Finally, when you’ve met the Invoicing Prerequisites, you can start invoicing USAC for the discount portion of the bill for the approved eligible services. The E-Rate Program has two methods of Invoicing. The type of invoicing utilized is the Applicant’s choice, but invoicing is performed within the E-Rate Productivity Center (EPC).

Key Features to Consider in E-rate Network Services

An array of features are most likely at the top of the list when looking into E-rate internet systems for schools. Still, the provider supplying the system needs to be up to supporting the system beyond the initial implementation. The desire is to have a new partner looking out for your best interests while keeping the network up and running for years to come. Some items to consider:

Reliability and uptime: Schools are not places that can be down for any length of time. Your service provider must offer reliable and efficient network access with minimal downtime. And better yet, a provider should work with you to create redundancies and failovers in case of emergencies or natural disasters.
Scalability and mobility: A network connection isn’t something that needs to be replaced every other year, and with a hosted system, it grows and changes to match your school’s needs. That includes mobility and remote needs built-in from the start.
Features: Consider the features you need, such as data cabling, network switches, Wi-Fi AP’s, routers, firewalls, fiber-optic cabling & network design. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but it's a decent place to start.
Integration: An often-forgotten need is to integrate new network electronics with your existing systems and infrastructure. If this isn’t considered, then the project's success is in jeopardy.
Security: Safety in schools and libraries can’t be assumed and must be prioritized. The security and compliance standards must be met to satisfy E-rate rules.

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Make the Most Out of Your E-rate Funding Journey with ElectroMedia

Taking the leap into the realm of E-rate funding is a must for any school and library to embark on. When you’ve reached the point of needing to upgrade your network electronics and internet connection, you can’t choose a better time than now to jump in. ElectroMedia has helped over 1,000 clients across Indiana and Michigan to secure the network access that fits their needs. Before making any decisions, though, reach out, and let’s discuss your options and possible outcomes when taking advantage of E-rate funding.