E-rate funding supports essential learning at critical time, survey finds

Key points:

Federal E-rate funding remains an essential role in closing the digital divide, particularly for rural and underserved communities, according to an annual report from Learning Fundsa leading advocate for funding educational technology.

The 14th annual Electronic Rate Trends Report reveals the current successes and challenges of the E-rate program and evaluates how the program can more effectively support schools and libraries. Input from schools and libraries is compiled and submitted directly to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to inform program administration.

More than 21,000 applicants and 3,700 providers participate in the E-rate program, emphasizing its vital role in providing Internet access to U.S. educational institutions. The E-rate 2024 survey, conducted in June, garnered 2,355 responses, approximately 11 percent of all applicants, and offers valuable insight into the experiences and needs of stakeholders.

Key conclusions and comments from the report include:

The vital role of E-rate: More than 88 percent of respondents stated that E-rate funding is essential to ensuring equitable access to Internet services, especially for rural and underserved communities.

“The E-rate program is crucial for modern education. This program ensures that schools can access technology vital to student learning. From broadband to Wi-Fi, this funding closes the digital divide, giving students equitable access to educational resources, fostering innovation, and ultimately shaping a better future for students.”
–California School District

“We are a very small rural library. My county has very poor connectivity options. My library's Wi-Fi is used daily by people sitting in their cars. The E-rate program has allowed a whole new group to get online.”
–Virginia Rural Library

Cybersecurity remains one of the main concerns: With the launch of the FCC's $200 million Cybersecurity Pilot Program, protecting school networks is more critical than ever. Many respondents emphasized the growing need for E-rate support in this area.

“Cybersecurity is increasingly becoming an important part of our budget dollars, and we could definitely use E-rate money to support our endpoint protection, network monitoring, firewalls and filtering.”
–Wisconsin School District

“In current times, the issue of cybersecurity is the top priority for almost any industry, but for a school it is almost impossible to pay for this issue with its limited resources.”
–Puerto Rico School

Rising Costs and Service Eligibility: As technology evolves, applicants are advocating for an expanded list of eligible services, with a significant focus on cybersecurity funding and advanced networking tools.

“Our school district's goal is to take full advantage of eligible services and would benefit greatly from eligibility for cybersecurity software/services.”
–Texas School District

“Our schools could not function or exist without E-rate Cat 1 and Cat 2 funding. This funding is essential for our schools to survive!”
–California School

“The findings of this report highlight the critical role of the E-rate program in closing the digital divide in schools and libraries,” said Brian Stephens, director of stakeholder engagement at Funds For Learning. “However, we must prioritize expanding funding eligibility for cybersecurity services to protect our students and educators in an increasingly complex digital landscape.”

This press release originally appeared online.

eSchool Media staff covers educational technology in all its aspects, from legislation and litigation to best practices, lessons learned and new products. First published in March 1998 as a monthly print and digital newspaper, eSchool Media provides the news and information needed to help K-20 decision makers successfully use technology and innovation to transform schools and universities. and achieve their educational goals.

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