The FCC has adopted an Order that finalizes the list of E-Rate eligible services for funding year 2024 and authorizes USAC to open the annual FCC Form 471 application filing window. In the Order, the FCC clarifies that the software necessary to operate and maintain Category One network equipment is eligible for E-Rate funding, and consulting fees that are not related to the installation and configuration of eligible components are ineligible.
The FCC has also made mobile broadband connectivity for school buses eligible for E-Rate support as a Category One service, along with the equipment and installation fees needed to make this service functional. The FCC’s Order also imposes several restrictions to ensure E-Rate funding is used strictly for educational purposes.
