E-rate Commentary

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...

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...