by Chris Schneider
For the last couple of months, we have been following the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) vote to advance a proposal that would consider changes to the E-Rate Program, which could include limiting it to only rural areas or eliminating the program completely. The proposal also explores assessing students’ screen time and reviewing the strict Child Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requirements.
Several organizations have put together turn-key call to action platforms to help share the importance of E-Rate funding to ensure affordable access to telecommunications services for all eligible schools and libraries.
Since 1998, Missouri’s eligible entities have received just over $189 million in federal funds to ensure every community has access to connectivity and digital tools necessary for modern education and lifelong learning. These funds are currently going directly to schools and libraries as reimbursements for eligible services and would be a budget line item that would need to be made up if this federal funding source is eliminated. If you have a MOREnet connection, MOREnet files on your behalf for E-Rate funding each year, your invoice reflects your E-Rate reimbursement. Members can view the details on the MyMOREnet portal.
If you would like to weigh in, comments on the FCC’s proposal are due by October 13, 2026. Here are a few resources:
The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition have launched a website to serve as a central hub with resources for filing FCC comments, contacting elected officials and taking other actions to support the program. Visiting www.SaveOurERate.com is the place to share stories and stay engaged throughout the proceeding.
CoSN has also put together a guide to help guide responses. They advise that the most valuable contribution you can make is telling your organization’s story about the impact of E-Rate on your students and patrons, specific examples are more impactful than a generic “E-Rate is important to our district.”
View the guide, complete with links to submit comments here.
Another resource you may find useful if you wish to voice your concern or post a comment is a site from E-Rate Central, a well-known advocate organization for the E-Rate program. This is a user-friendly guide to help you create and comment to the FCC. They have a video walk through of how a comment gets filed, and FAQ section and tools to build and submit comments. For those in leadership, you can also download a fact sheet and leadership briefing to help your teams understand the impact.