Emergency Connectivity Fund E-Rate Draft Released

The FCC and Acting Charwoman Jessica Rosenworcel have released a draft of the proposed Emergency Connectivity Funds (ECF) rules and regulations. ECF will be an important step in addressing some of the many expenses that schools have taken on in the last year to support remote student learning.

In the ECF draft, two potential sources of funding in particular stand-out:

• Laptops and tablets may be funded up to $400/student device

• Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and cellular air-cards may be reimbursed, with a Wi-Fi hotspot cap of $250/device.

The initial round of filing is expected to cover expenses incurred between July 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021, with a second window opening should there be remaining funds available.

If the program draft moves forward, there will be an initial 45-day filing window, after which the FCC will be able to determine how much of the ECF funding has been requested. If the initial requests exceed available funds, ECF will prioritize schools and districts based on their discount rate, with preference given to applicants with the highest percentage of students qualifying for the National School Lunch Program.

Final rules for the program are expected to be released by May 10, 2021.