E-Rate

E-Rate is an annual funding program overseen by USAC and the FCC to make Internet services and hardware available to schools nationwide. Please contact us to schedule virtual training or assistance any time.

server room with many cables
Broadband Infrastructure

Idaho Code created the Broadband Infrastructure Improvement Grant (B.I.I.G.) Fund. This fund is available to be distributed to provide state matching funds for eligible special construction projects to deploy new fiber (or fiber-equivalent) for high-speed broadband.

Funding Year 2026 Application Window

The FCC Form 471 application window for Funding Year 2026 opens January 21. 2026 and closes April 1, 2026 at 9:59pm MT (8:59pm PT). Funding Year 2026 begins 7/1/2026 and ends 6/30/2027. To participate in the Broadband Reimbursement Program, schools must receive a Funding Commitment Decision Letter for their Funding Year 2026 Category 1 services. Last date to post a Form 470 and wait the required 28 calendar days before awarding a contract is March 4, 2026. For up-to-date information and training resources, please visit the E-Rate training website and subscribe to the USAC News Brief

Resources for Idaho Schools

From the Official USAC and FCC Sites

To-Do List

Please contact us for assistance, or to schedule a consultation.

Steps for Annual E-Rate Cycle
  1. Planning
  2. Form 470 (if applicable)
  3. Form 471 Funding Application
  4. Receive Funding Commitment and Form 486
  5. Invoicing USAC (applicant or vendor)
  6. Document Retention (10 Years)

For detailed steps, read more at USAC.org

E-Rate-Task-Table

Eligible Services and Hardware

Please review the 2025 Eligible Services list for complete details

Data Transmission Services and/or Internet Access
  • Internet Access
    • Includes one-time costs and special construction for new fiber infrastructure.
  • Data Transmission (Wide-area network; WAN)
    • Includes Dark Fiber or Self-Provisioned networks
  • Network hardware that makes the service operable
  • *Hotspots to loan to students and staff
  • *Bus Wi-FI

Note: *Hardware and service not eligible for the Broadband Reimbursement Program.

Internal Connections (IC), Managed Internal Broadband Services (MIBS), and Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections (BMIC)
  • Internal Connections
    • Includes one-time cost for hardware, and components required to operate hardware
  • Managed Internal Broadband Services (MIBS)
    • Includes recurring services and one-time costs required to operate services
  • Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections
    • Includes costs for upkeep of existing equipment, such as physical or technical maintenance.

Note: No category 2 items are eligible for the Broadband Reimbursement Program.

Some hardware may only be partially eligible due to restrictions on the current year Eligible Services List released by the FCC (for example, firewalls with advanced features). Some hardware SKUs can be researched at the Funds for Learning product eligibility help desk. The data provided on that site is only for estimation; USAC has final determination of eligibility.