The application windows for the FCC’s $7.2 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program are now closed. Distributed through the federal E-rate program, the program supports students who fall into the homework gap.
Schools who have submitted an Emergency Connectivity Fund application are required to certify that they are only seeking support for students and staff who would otherwise lack broadband services and devices sufficient to engage in remote learning. They must also submit estimates on the current number of unconnected students, the number before the pandemic, and the number they expect to connect using these funds. Our resources can help you:
All schools that are eligible for support under the E-rate program were able to apply for the ECF. Explore the links below to learn about eligible services and equipment, bidding rules, and reimbursements.
Our K-12 Bridge to Broadband Program lets you partner with Internet Service Providers for the most accurate data on unconnected student households that can be served with existing infrastructure.
While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to connecting students beyond the classroom, factors such as the needs of students, staffing capacity at the district, and locale play an important role in selecting the right connectivity solution.
Explore resources to help you make an informed decision on the best home connectivity solutions to connect students using the Emergency Connectivity Fund. The tools listed below help school districts identify which connected learning devices to purchase, which Internet Service Providers can serve their students, and the estimated cost of specific plans.
If you have taken steps to identify students that lack home digital access and explored potential connectivity solutions, the next step is to claim your funding.
School districts can use our RFI template to request Internet access service pricing information for eligible students and staff. The template satisfies most bidding requirements, but for school districts in states that have more comprehensive procurement requirements, you should make sure you understand the complete terms and conditions of utilizing the funds, in addition to any state or local regulations.
Find a list of potential ISP’s that can provide home broadband services to your students according to publicly available FCC data.
Get accurate data on which student households are currently unconnected, along with specific Internet Service Providers that can serve them with existing infrastructure.
Conducting direct outreach to student families? Use our Home Digital Access Needs Assessment Playbook to efficiently and accurately assess digital equity gaps.
Use our high-quality template to request Internet access service pricing information for eligible students and staff.
Get answers about eligible services and equipment, bidding rules, and reimbursements.
The Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) is a federal reimbursement program that will provide $7.2 billion to schools and libraries for broadband Internet service and equipment to support remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new fund will be distributed through the federal E-rate program and provides a lifeline to the 7-12 million students who lack a home Internet connection and dedicated digital learning device.
All schools, libraries, and consortia eligible for support under the E-rate program are also eligible for support through the Emergency Connectivity Fund. Entities do not need to be currently participating in E-rate to apply.
The Emergency Connectivity Fund was created to close the homework gap, so broadband connections are eligible anywhere education occurs except on school or library campuses.
Schools are required to certify, as part of their funding application, that they are only seeking support for:
Eligible equipment provided to students and school staff who would otherwise lack access to connected devices sufficient to engage in remote learning.
Eligible services provided to students and school staff who would otherwise lack broadband services sufficient to engage in remote learning.
There will be an initial 45-day filing window for schools and libraries to seek reimbursement for eligible purchases made between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. This is the so-called “prospective” reimbursement filing window. A 45-day application window will open in June, but exact dates have not yet been announced.
If significant funds remain available, the FCC may decide to open another prospective filing window; alternatively, the FCC may open a “retroactive” filing window for purchases eligible purchases made between March 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021.
Eligible Internet access services include “fixed” services like cable modem, DSL, or residential fiber service, as well as wireless services like 5G/LTE service to hotspot devices. Equipment necessary to make Internet connections functional, such as modems, routers, and hotspots are eligible as well.
There are no minimum standards for network connections. A single Wi-Fi hotspot is allowed per user, and only one fixed internet connection is permitted per location.
There are no price caps for broadband services, but USAC will review costs. Applicants may seek funding for the construction of off-campus networks, but support is limited, and applicants must prove there is no commercially available internet access.
Smartphones are not eligible, but the FCC will approve reimbursement requests up to $400 for laptops and tablets. Applicants can purchase more expensive devices, but reimbursements will be capped at the $400 limit. One connected device per student is allowed. There is no allowance for breakage/spares.
Schools will be asked to submit estimates about:
If you need help to identify unconnected students, reach out to us about the K12 Bridge to Broadband Data Exchange, or conduct a survey leveraging our Home Access Needs Assessment Playbook.
To ensure that funding is focused on unmet need and collect data on the size of the homework gap, schools are required to certify, as part of their funding application, that they are only seeking support for:
You will be asked to submit estimates about:
If you need help to identify unconnected students, reach out to us about the K12 Bridge to Broadband Data Exchange, or conduct a survey leveraging our Home Access Needs Assessment Playbook.
Applicants will use the FCC Form 471 to seek support for eligible equipment and services.
Rural schools and libraries will be eligible to receive their standard E-rate discount plus 5 percent. Urban schools and libraries will follow the E-rate discount matrix as written for category one services based on their National School Lunch Program rate.
USAC will wait until the filing window is closed and all applications are tallied to begin issuing funding commitments. The goal is for USAC to process 50% of applications within 60 days after the close of the filing window.
No. There will be no FCC-specific competitive bidding mandates (e.g., the FCC Form 470); however, applicants will certify compliance with applicable local, state, and Tribal procurement requirements.
USAC is administering the Emergency Connectivity Fund and will use forms that exist within the online E-rate portal (EPC). FCC Form 471 will be used as the vehicle for applying. FCC Form 472 (BEAR) and FCC Form 474 (SPI) will be used to seek reimbursement.
Applicants will be required to keep documentation supporting their funding requests, goods and services delivery, and payment requests for up to 10 years from the last date of service or delivery of equipment.
If demand for funding exceeds available funds, applications will be prioritized and processed based on the Category 1 E-rate discount rate associated with a school or library.
Rural applicants will receive a 5% bump to the discount rate used to calculate the priority of their applications, meaning they will receive priority over their urban counterparts with the same E-rate discount. If there are insufficient funds to fund an entire discount band, priority will be given to applicants with the highest percentage of low-income students.
Yes. Applicants can also request reimbursement before paying for services, in which case the applicant must pay their vendors within 30-days of receiving their Emergency Connectivity Fund reimbursement.
The existing FCC Form 472 (BEAR) system will be used to submit payment requests, following a 60-day invoice submission timeframe. Detailed line-item vendor invoices will be required. Applicants must be registered in the Sam.gov system to receive Emergency Connectivity Fund reimbursements.
Students, school staff (not limited to just teachers), and library patrons who otherwise did not or do not have Internet access are eligible (subject to certification for school applicants.) Appropriate user credentials are required for access to services.
Recipients will be required to comply with CIPA requirements in a similar way to E-rate funding recipients. The CIPA requirements will apply for the use of computers (laptops, tablets, etc.) that are owned by the applicant (school or library) if the applicant receives funding for Internet service through the Emergency Connectivity Fund or E-rate.
CIPA compliance is not required if 1) the devices are owned by the school or library applicant, but the applicant is not receiving Internet service funding from either Emergency Connectivity Fund or E-rate, or if 2) the devices are owned by a third-party (the student or library patron).
Yes. Applicant appeals must be submitted within 30 days, rather than the E-rate program’s customary 60-day deadline.
