Schools can now request additional E-Rate funding from the Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau, which has opened an E-Rate funding window for a second funding round for 2020 to address increased demand on schools’ bandwidth needs.

In its announcement, the FCC pointed out that U.S. schools are continuing to face COVID-19-driven challenges, many school districts are relying on remote learning, either in whole or in part. With the additional reliance on remote learning and social distancing in schools providing in-person instruction, the demand on school networks has dramatically heightened demand on school networks, resulting in additional need for on-campus bandwidth.

E-Rate Funding Window

Schools will be able to buy additional bandwidth for the academic year to address needs resulting from the increasing shift to 1:1 student-to-device ratios in classrooms, live streaming of classroom instruction to students at home and expanding use of cloud-based educational tools and platforms.  The filing window will open upon publication of the Order in the Federal Register and close on October 16, 2020.

“Across the country, students have started a new school year where connectivity is proving to be more critical than ever before, and many schools require additional bandwidth to meet the increased demand,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, in a prepared statement.  “Providing a new E-Rate funding application window will help schools meet this demand and is another important step in our efforts to support our nation’s students and teachers.” 

Earlier this year, the FCC extended its E-Rate service implementation and filing deadlines to provide relief to program participants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The commission also waived the program’s gift rules to enable service providers to offer, and E-Rate program participants to solicit and accept, improved connections or additional equipment for remote learning during the coronavirus outbreak.  The FCC also partnered with the Department of Education to promote the use of $16 billion in available funding for remote learning from the Education Stabilization Fund that was part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.