E-rate Commentary

Sean Lock, CEMP

August 18, 2026

Need More Bandwidth Mid-Year? It Just Got Easier

For years, E-rate applicants have faced a common challenge: what happens when the bandwidth you requested back in February is no longer enough by October? The good news: you may...

Brian Stephens, CEMP

by Brian Stephens

August 18, 2026

The Record is Clear: We Agree About MIBS

The reply comment period for the FCC’s draft FY2027 Eligible Services List closed on August 14. A thorough review of the comments and subsequent replies shows clear agreement among schools,...

by Hunter Paige

August 18, 2026

Filing Your FY2027 Form 470: What’s Changed and What to Get Right

The FCC Form 470 is where the E-rate year truly begins. It opens your competitive bidding process, publicly describes the services and equipment you’re seeking, and starts the 28-day clock...

by Sheauna Brown

August 11, 2026

Her District Grew Up in the Middle of Cotton Fields. E-rate Kept It Connected.

When Brenna Clinton talks about what E-rate means to Greenwood Independent School District, she does not reach for policy language. She talks about the internet in two brand-new campuses that...

by Kimberly Beck

August 11, 2026

The FCDL Isn’t the Finish Line: Your Guide to Service Delivery Season

For many E-rate applicants, receiving a Funding Commitment Decision Letter feels like crossing the finish line. In reality, it’s more like receiving a boarding pass. The trip has been approved,...

by Cathy Cruzan

The FY2027 ESL Comments Are In: The Record Says Keep MIBS, and Keep It Simple

The draft Funding Year 2027 Eligible Services List proposed almost no changes to what E-rate funds. Instead, the Wireline Competition Bureau asked questions about Managed Internal Broadband Services: whether MIBS...

by Todd Lawrence

Start Your Category One Bidding Prep the First Week Back at School

If you’re planning to bid for internet access or Wide Area Network (WAN) services for next year, the clock is already running. Category One procurement planning needs to start roughly...

by Elizabeth Oglevie

Your Back-to-School E-rate Checklist: What to Sort Out Now

The start of a new school year is the right time to ask a few key questions before your next E-rate cycle begins. As students and staff return, schools and...