Survey finds E-rate funding crucial for supporting essential learning during a critical time

Federal E-rate funding continues to play a crucial role in narrowing the digital gap, especially for rural and underserved communities, as per an annual report from Funds For Learning, a prominent advocate for educational technology funding.

The 14th annual E-rate Trends Report sheds light on the current achievements and obstacles of the E-rate program and assesses how the program can best support schools and libraries. Input from schools and libraries is compiled and sent directly to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to guide program administration.

With over 21,000 applicants and 3,700 vendors participating in the E-rate program, its significance in providing internet access to U.S. educational institutions is emphasized. The 2024 E-rate survey, conducted in June, received 2,355 responses, representing about 11 percent of all applicants, providing valuable insights into stakeholder experiences and requirements.

Key insights and feedback from the report include:

E-rate’s critical role: More than 88 percent of respondents confirmed that E-rate funding is vital in ensuring fair access to internet services, especially for underserved and rural communities.

“The E-rate program is essential for modern education. This program guarantees that schools have access to crucial technology for student learning. From broadband to Wi-Fi, this funding closes the digital gap, empowering students with equal access to educational resources, promoting innovation, and ultimately shaping a brighter 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 just sitting in their cars. The E-rate program has enabled a whole new group to connect.” – Rural Virginia Library

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Cybersecurity remains a top concern: With the introduction of the FCC’s $200 million Cybersecurity Pilot Program, safeguarding school networks is more crucial than ever. Many respondents highlighted the growing need for E-rate support in this area.

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

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

Rising costs and service eligibility: As technology advances, applicants are advocating for an expanded list of eligible services, with a significant focus on funding for cybersecurity and advanced networking tools.

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

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

“The findings in this report highlight the critical role of the E-rate program in bridging the digital divide for schools and libraries,” stated 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 cover education technology in all its aspects–from legislation and litigation, to best practices, to lessons learned and new products. First published in March of 1998 as a monthly print and digital newspaper, eSchool Media provides the news and information necessary to help K-20 decision-makers successfully use technology and innovation to transform schools and colleges and achieve their educational goals.

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