What Does Summa E‑Rate Solutions Do?

Summa E‑Rate Solutions manages the entire E‑Rate process for smaller school clients nationwide—especially charter schools.

Their services typically include:

• Registering entities with USAC.
• Preparing and filing FCC Form 470 (Competitive Bid Request) and FCC Form 471 (Funding Request).
• Reviewing vendor bids, selecting cost-effective providers.
• Coordinating service delivery, compliance with rules like CIPA, installation timelines, and installation documentation.
• Handling invoice options—either using SPI (service provider invoices USAC) or BEAR (entity pays upfront and gets reimbursed).

Why It Matters

The E‑Rate program is crucial for bridging the digital divide, especially in high-poverty or rural areas where schools and libraries rely on these discounts to afford broadband and internal network infrastructure.

In fiscal year 2024, schools and libraries requested around $3.2 billion in funding—within a cap of about $4.9 billion.

Recent updates include expansion to cover Wi‑Fi hotspots or “air cards” for loaning to students (effective FY 2025), and an E‑Rate Cybersecurity Pilot Program to help schools strengthen online safety.