E-rate Commentary

Brian Stephens, CEMP

by Brian Stephens

5 Ways the April 2026 Order Makes E-rate a Little Easier

On April 30, 2026, the FCC adopted a Report and Order on Reconsideration that brings a number of changes to the E-rate program. Most of the attention has gone to...

by Sheauna Brown

A Look Inside a Category Two PIA Review: What Is Checked

If you’re preparing for a Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) review on your Category Two funding request, it may help to know exactly what a reviewer is checking, and why. Here’s...

by Heidi Leonard

What Your E-rate Funding Depends On, Explained: Enrollment, NSLP, and the Discount Matrix

One of the first questions applicants ask about the E-rate program is simple: how much funding can we receive? The answer depends on your E-rate discount rate. Your discount rate...

by Michelle Jackson

Five Ways to Keep Your Category Two Project on Track this Summer

For many applicants, summer means Category Two projects are officially underway. Whether you’re replacing switches, installing wireless access points, or upgrading your network, the steps you take now are what...

Eric Jester, CEMP

Category Two Service Substitutions: What Qualifies, and How to Protect Your Funding

Once your Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) arrives, the products and services on your Category Two funding request are locked in. But real-world projects don’t always go according to plan....

by Neal Brautigan

How Your E-rate Reimbursements Are Paid Change in August. Here’s What to Do

Beginning in August 2026, USAC plans to pay certain E-rate reimbursements using the banking information tied to your organization’s SAM.gov account, instead of the banking information on file with your...

John Harrington, CEMP

by John Harrington

If We Pulled the Plug Tomorrow, What Would Students Lose?

If you took technology out of your classrooms tomorrow, what would you lose? Two weeks ago I was in a conference room in Orlando, at ISTELive and the ASCD Annual...

by Sheauna Brown

Watch What’s Eligible: What USAC Removed from FY2025 Requests

In Funding Year (FY) 2025, USAC removed a wide variety of products and services from funding requests because they did not qualify for E-rate support. The lesson is simple: don’t...