In an NPRM released November 13, 2023, the Commission proposes a three-year pilot program within the USF – but separate from E-rate – to provide up to $200 million available to support cybersecurity and advanced firewall services for eligible schools and libraries.

Download FCC 23-92 NPRM PDF

SECA has filed Reply Comments in response to the Commission's Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) of August 9, 2023.

Download the Filing:

Reply Comments re E-Rate FNPRM

Appendix B FY 2019_2023 C1 District Discounts

The WCB seeks comments on how to implement the addition of bus Wi-Fi eligibility into the Eligible Services List

Comment Date: November 23, 2023

Download DA 23-10-11 Public Notice PDF

The FCC issued a Declaratory Ruling on October 25, 2023 clarifying "that the use of Wi-Fi, or other similar technologies that act as an access point, on school buses is an educational purpose as defined by E-Rate program rules and, therefore, the provision of such service is eligible for E-Rate funding."

Download the Declaratory Ruling

SECA has filed extensive Initial Comments in response to the Commission's Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) of August 9, 2023.

With the Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted on July 20, 2023, the Commission makes changes to provide Tribal communities and other E-Rate participants with greater access to the E-Rate program. Specific updates to the E-Rate program rules include:

• Granting E-Rate eligibility to Tribal College and University libraries that serve as public libraries in their communities.
• Creating an exemption to the competitive bidding requirements for libraries seeking E-Rate support for category two services that total a pre-discount price of $3,600 or less per library per funding year. Category two services are the internal connections needed for broadband connectivity within schools. This step can help simplify the application process.
• Increasing the maximum category two discount rate to 90% and the category two funding floor to $55,000 for Tribal libraries. This step can raise the amount of funding for category two services that are reimbursable through the E-Rate program.
• Providing guidance on cost allocation issues experienced by applicants.
• Adopting a formal definition of “Tribal” within the E-Rate program to better identify Tribal applicants seeking E-Rate funding.
• Amending the Commission’s E-Rate program rules to add a Tribal community representative to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Board of Directors.
• Directing USAC to provide increased outreach and training to Tribal applicants.
• Seeking comment on ways to further simplify the E-Rate program for all applicants.

The order and press releases are available at:

 https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-bolsters-tribal-libraries-access-e-rate-program-funding-0

SECA has filed a joint letter with the Commission responding to the Tribal Libraries NPRM.

Download Comments

The WCB announced on March 3, 2023 that the E-rate program funding cap for Funding Year 2023 has been set to $4,768,413,261. This amount represents a 7.0% inflation-adjusted increase to $4,456,460,992, the annual cap for the program last year.

The WCB has adopted the proposals set forth in the Bureau's Public Notice seeking comment on the proposed eligible services list for funding year 2023.

Download FY2023 ESL