E-Rate & Technology
Guidance, policy updates and actionable resources for schools & districts focused on E-Rate and Technology.
Background
The Federal Communication Commission (FCC)'s E-Rate program makes telecommunications and information services more affordable for schools and libraries. With funding from the , E-Rate provides discounts for telecommunications, internet access, and internal connections to eligible schools and libraries. E-Rate is critical to school-based internet access, which is foundational for today’s learners.
Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµhas long supported and championed the E-Rate program for its work to transform and support broadband connectivity in schools. We work closely with the FCC to support policies aimed at closing the homework gap through equitable access to technology and internet. Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµis also committed to working with the U.S. Department of Education and the FCC on ensuring any federal response to cybersecurity threats and student data privacy are comprehensive and cross-agency and adequately funded.
AASA's priorities through the E-Rate program include:
- Support preservation of the Universal Service Fund and the programs it supports
- Supporting the FCC's Learn Without Limits initiative to provide students with Wi-Fi on buses and hotspot connectivity
- Supporting policies that protect student data privacy and adequately fund cybersecurity for all school districts
AASA's Position & Priorities
Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµis committed to advocating for the following:
- Support flexibility of federal resources to ensure equitable access to affordable broadband, to better support student connectivity both in and out of school.
- Ensure any federal response to cybersecurity threats are comprehensive and cross-agency, and adequately funded.
- Oppose any effort to redirect E-Rate funding as initial/primary cybersecurity response.
- Permanently exempt E-Rate from the Anti-Deficiency Act.
- Support preservation of the Universal Service Fund and the programs it supports.
- Support using E-Rate dollars for Wi-Fi on buses and hot spots.
- Support efforts to ensure equitable access to affordable connectivity at home and at school.
- Update definitions to address the realities of the digital age, making it possible to protect data while ensuring appropriate use of student data for legitimate educational needs and reforms.
- Ensure funding to support school districts in ongoing efforts to respond to cybersecurity threats.
Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµhas long supported and championed the E-Rate program for its work to transform and support broadband connectivity in schools... Even before the pandemic, we knew that upwards of 12 million students struggled without (or with inadequate) broadband access at home to complete school assignments.
David R. Schuler, Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµexecutive director
Issue Updates
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July 13, 2026
Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµOfficers Meet with FCC Chairman and CommissionersAs part of this week’s legislative advocacy conference, Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµOfficers LaTonya M. Goffney, Jennifer Kelsall and David Law met with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, and Krista Snell (Chief of Staff for Commissioner Trusty).
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June 29, 2026
FCC Votes to Consider Rule to End E-Rate: How You Can AdvocateLast week the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that raises serious concerns for the future of the E-Rate program.
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June 16, 2026
Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµJoins SHLB and EdLiNC in Initial Meetings to Push Back on FCC Proposal to End E-RateÂܲ·AVÊÓÆµwas one of a handful of groups that met with the offices of all 3 FCC commissioners over the last week to provide initial feedback on the FCC proposal that would, among other things, consider ending the program and limiting access to rural schools.
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June 09, 2026
FCC Rulemaking Puts E-Rate at RiskLast Friday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that raises serious concerns for the future of the E-Rate program.
Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµResources
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January 29, 2026
PEP Talk Episode 43: The State of Student Privacy & AIType:Podcast Topics: Advocacy & Policy School Safety & Cybersecurity Technology & AIOn this episode of PEP Talk: Kat Sturdevant catches up with Amelia Vance, founder and president of the Public Interest Privacy Center, to discuss recent developments on Capitol Hill related to student and child privacy bills and the role of AI in schools. -
November 21, 2024
PEP Talk Episode 34: The E-Rate SagaType:Podcast Topics: Advocacy & PolicyOn this episode of PEP Talk: Kat Sturdevant gets into the weeds on the current saga of the FCC's Universal Service Fund and E-Rate with Jon Bernstein, an education technology and telecommunications lobbyist and president of Bernstein Strategy Group. -
June 27, 2024
The Pillars of Well-Designed Student Privacy LegislationTopics:This report highlights the twelve foundational pillars of well-designed student privacy legislation, aiming to equip state policymakers with the knowledge and tools necessary to craft and continuously improve state-level student privacy protections. -
June 27, 2024
Mitigating Risks in Student Surveys: An Overview of PPRAA brief history of the PPRA, guidelines for applying the law, lessons learned from past misapplications of PPRA, and best practices for compliant and effective social emotional learning (SEL) survey administration in school.
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Additional Resources
Federal Communications Commission and U.S. Department of Education Resources
In the News
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June 27, 2025
Access & Opportunity, Advocacy & Policy, E-Rate, Press Release
EdLiNC Coalition Applauds Supreme Court Decision Upholding Universal Service Fund, Safeguarding E-Rate Access for Schools and LibrariesThis ruling affirms the FCC’s longstanding authority to administer the USF—and by extension, its schools and libraries program, more commonly referred to as ‘E-Rate.'
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January 16, 2025
E-Rate, Press Release, Technology & AI
Âܲ·AVÊÓÆµApplauds FCC and Recipients in First Federal Cybersecurity PilotÂܲ·AVÊÓÆµapplauds the more than 700 schools, districts, libraries and consortia selected as recipients in the FCC’s Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program.
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