SLED — E-rate

E-rate FAQs

1. What is E-rate?

• A program to help ensure schools and libraries can obtain and keep high speed internet access, telecommunications and internet connections at an affordable rate.

• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is an independent U.S. government agency. The FCC sets the rules and policies.
• The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), which is a not-for-profit company that administers the day-to-day operations and any changes in the operations. USAC’s procedures are reviewed and approved annually by FCC.

• Elementary and secondary schools and school districts.
  1. Public, private, charter, parochial and Tribal.
  2. Non-Traditional facilities such as Pre-K, Head Start, juvenile justice and adult education are eligible as long as they fit their state definition of elementary/secondary education.
• Libraries and library systems.
  1. Public, private, academic, research and Tribal.
  2. Bookmobiles and kiosks are eligible if they are considered library branches in their state.
• Consortia.
  1. Eligible entities can form consortia by banding together.

• There are two Categories of Eligible Services List (ESL).
  1. Category 1: Data Transmissions Services and Internet Access, and Voice Services.
  2. Category 2: Internal Connections, Managed Internal Broadband Services, and Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections.

• Category 2 only.

• Access points
• Installation, activation and initial configuration
• Supporting software
• Maintenance of hardware
• Switches, routers, firewalls, cables, racks and UPS/batteries

• Yes, the key with E-rate is to register each opportunity!
• Reach out to the Public Sector team for assistance on deal registration.

• National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and if the entity is in an urban or rural location. USAC utilizes NSLP to determine poverty levels.

• Urban Discount 20% - 85%
• Rural Discount 25% - 85%

• SPIN# (Service Provider Identification Number) also known as a 498ID

• FALSE – Resellers cannot act as the consultant and resell the products to the end-user.

• Funding years are from July 1 - June 30. The funding year is when the services begin.
  For example: FY2020 = July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020