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Digital Learning

Technology Planning & Sustainability

E-Rate

E-rate is a federal program that provides technology discounts for schools and libraries. E-rate is administered by the Universal Services Administrative Company (USAC) under the oversight of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Schools and libraries are eligible to receive discounts on the following products and services:

  • Category 1: Internet/broadband (and for a limited time, voice)
  • Category 2: Internal connections, managed internal broadband services, and basic maintenance of internal connections. All schools have a pre-discount budget of $156.23 per student for Category 2 over a 5-year period; discounts range from 20 to 85 percent based upon poverty level and whether the district is rural or urban. Rural districts and districts with higher poverty receive greater discounts. Almost all Massachusetts public schools receive at least a 40 percent discount.

Products and services must be purchased from eligible contracts, and an application must be approved by USAC.

Note: Unless otherwise noted, all external links go to the USAC website.

Massachusetts Funding Status (as of November 1, 2018)

Funding YearSchools (#)RequestedCommittedDisbursed
2015 (SFY2016)1,677$49.5M$43.4M$33.7M
2016 (SFY2017)1,540$36.4M$30.1M*$27.1M
2017 (SFY2018)1,250$34.7M$30.5M$26.3M***
2018 (SFY2019)1,015*$34.2M*$29.3M*$5.7MM***
4-Year Total5,482$154.8M$133.3M$92.8M
* Still under review
** Disbursement requests will continue through May 2019
*** Disbursement requests will continue through May 2020

Last Updated: March 6, 2019

 
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Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149

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Disclaimer: A reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.