Santo E-Rate Funds for Schools
USAC.org is the website of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), a not-for-profit organization designated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to administer the Universal Service Fund (USF) and its programs. One of its main programs is E-Rate (officially the Schools and Libraries Program).
E-Rate is a federal program that helps make high-speed internet, telecommunications services, and related equipment more affordable for schools and libraries across the United States. It provides significant discounts (ranging from 20% to 90%) on eligible costs, funded through the Universal Service Fund (supported by contributions from telecommunications companies). The goal is to ensure students, educators, and library patrons have reliable broadband access for learning, digital resources, and connectivity—helping bridge the digital divide, especially in low-income or rural areas.
Who Is Eligible?
Public and private K-12 schools.
Public libraries (and certain other library types that meet criteria).
Groups of schools/libraries, such as districts, consortia, or systems.
Applicants must meet specific statutory definitions and request only eligible services/equipment.
What Does It Fund?
E-Rate discounts apply to:
Category One services: Data transmission (e.g., broadband connectivity to the building), internet access, and telecommunications services.
Category Two services: Internal connections (e.g., Wi-Fi equipment, routers, cabling inside buildings), managed internal broadband services, and basic maintenance of internal connections.
Full lists of eligible services and applicants are on the USAC site (via the Eligible Services List and eligibility pages).
How Does the Discount Work?
Discount percentages depend on:
The poverty level (often based on the percentage of students eligible for the National School Lunch Program or similar measures).
Whether the location is urban or rural (rural areas get a boost).
Higher poverty/rural status = higher discount (up to 90%). For example: A school/library with a 90% discount on a $1,000 eligible service pays only $100 (their non-discount share), and E-Rate covers the remaining $900 directly to the provider.
How Does the Process Work?
Competitive bidding — Applicants file FCC Form 470 to post needs publicly; vendors bid.
Select the most cost-effective provider (price is the primary factor).
Apply for funding via FCC Form 471.
USAC reviews and issues a commitment letter (funding approval).
Services start; the applicant pays their share, and USAC reimburses the provider (or handles direct payment in some cases).
Invoicing and reimbursement occur (with tools like the E-Rate Productivity Center portal).
The program runs on annual funding years, with specific filing windows (deadlines like March 2026 for Form 470 and April 2026 for certain applications, plus changes like SAM.gov integration for payments starting August 2026).
For the most current details, official guides, tools, or to apply, visit the dedicated section: https://www.usac.org/e-rate/.
USAC also offers resources like webinars, training, and data tools to check commitments or entity info. If you're a school or library considering participation, starting with their "Get Started" page is recommended.
