USAC has begun preparing for the next Category Two (C2) budget cycle, and applicants should do the same. The November 18 E-Rate News Brief notes that the C2 Budget Tool FY2021+ now includes forecasted budgets for FY2026–2030, based on the enrollment and square footage values currently listed in EPC. Combined with the opening of the FY2026 EPC administrative window, this is the ideal time for schools and libraries to review their data and confirm what their next five-year C2 budget will look like.
Forecasted C2 budgets for FY2026–2030
The Budget Tool was updated on October 10 and now displays projected C2 budgets for the upcoming cycle. These projections are generated from the most recent information in each applicant’s EPC profile, including student enrollment for schools and building size for libraries.
These values are still adjustable. Any updates you make to enrollment or square footage during the administrative window will change your forecasted budget. For growing districts and expanding library systems, this is an important opportunity to make sure your next five years of purchasing power are accurately reflected before you begin planning FY2026 internal connections projects.
Use the EPC administrative window to clean your profile
The FY2026 window opened on October 15 and will remain open until shortly before the FY2026 Form 471 window begins in early 2026. Once the Form 471 window opens, EPC profiles are locked.
USAC recommends several specific housekeeping tasks during this period:
Account administration
- Confirm that your Account Administrator is active.
- Add new users, deactivate users who are no longer with your organization, and review user rights.
- Add or remove consulting firms as needed.
Entity relationships
- Verify relationships between parent and child entities.
- For consortia, review and update your member list in the “Manage Organization Relationships” section and remind each member to update its own profile.
Core C2 budget drivers
- Schools and districts: Update student counts with the most recent verified enrollment data. Review peak part-time numbers to ensure they reflect the highest count during a single point in the school day.
- Library systems and independent libraries: Verify square footage for each branch, identify your main branch, and confirm Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) locale codes. Add any missing codes.
These updates carry extra weight this year because the same values will determine your C2 budget for the full FY2026–2030 cycle.
How Funds For Learning can help
The transition to a new five-year budget cycle creates both challenges and opportunities. Accurate profile data is essential for maximizing E-rate funding, and early planning can simplify the entire C2 strategy for the years ahead.
Funds For Learning can assist with:
- Reviewing and interpreting forecasted C2 budgets for FY2026–2030
- Building a multi-year internal connections plan
- Updating EPC profiles and entity relationships to ensure data accuracy before the filing window opens
A clear plan and accurate EPC data will set the stage for a smoother and more predictable C2 cycle.
