E-Rate Program: Making Connectivity Affordable for Schools and Libraries

Created by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and overseen by the FCC through the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), the E-Rate Program provides 20% to 90% discounts on essential internet and network services.

What Can You Apply For?

E-Rate funding is available in two main categories:

• Category One: Internet access, broadband connectivity, and telecom services to get your institution online.
  
• Category Two: Internal connections such as Wi-Fi access points, routers, switches, cabling, and ongoing maintenance—everything needed to support a reliable on-campus network.
  

How Is Funding Determined?

Your discount level is based on:

• The percentage of students eligible for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
  
• Your location—rural or urban
  

Every year, the E-Rate program allocates billions of dollars to eligible schools and libraries across the U.S.
For fiscal year 2024, the program’s funding cap is $4.94 billion, with over $3.2 billion already requested—don’t miss out on your share.

Why It Matters

Reliable connectivity is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. E-Rate helps you modernize your infrastructure without straining your budget, so you can focus on what matters most: learning and community engagement.

At Summa E-Rate Solutions, we understand the financial challenges schools and libraries face in today’s digital world. That’s where the E-Rate Program comes in—a federal initiative designed to help you secure the technology and infrastructure your students and patrons need to thrive.