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Back to School means administrators get homework too. Since the FCC announced the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Future of E-Rate, FCC 26-41, on June 26, over 260 stakeholders have already submitted comments to the FCC and hundreds, if not thousands, of additional comments are expected from schools, libraries, states, consortia, and public citizens of all walks of life. For the last 30 years, E-Rate has been a fundamental part of the education landscape. However, the qu

The 2027 Draft Eligible Services List DA 26-647 was released by the FCC on June 30, 2026 for public comment. Comments for the Draft ESL are due July 30, 2026 and Reply Comments are due August 14, 2026 under WC Docket No. 13-184. Full text of the 2027 Draft Eligible Services List can be found here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-647A1.pdf This is a very short timeline and will be complete prior to schools return in the fall. The FCC is not proposing any changes

While many applicants prepared to celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, the FCC was busy creating fireworks of their own within the E-Rate program. On June 25, 2026, the FCC voted to release the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the Future of E-Rate. They launched nearly 90 questions on the fundamental nature of the E-Rate program and ‘burst in air’ whether it was time to declare a victory for classroom connectivity as outlined in the 1996 Telecommunications Act and

On June 25, 2026, the FCC voted 2-1 to release the most comprehensive E-Rate Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the history of the program (FCC 26-41) titled ‘In the Matter of Ensuring Children's Safe Use of Screens and E-Rate-Funded Services.’ In this NPRM, the FCC seeks comment on many of the fundamental structures of the E-Rate program-- from routine administrative items such as whether out-of-date services should be removed from the Eligible Services List, to whether

CSM is hard at work on Capitol Hill advocating for the E-Rate Program! Pictured here are Candice Hall and Nick Cichella along with a group meeting with US Senator Ed Markey, one of the founders of the E-Rate Program on the steps of the Capitol Building.

USAC has announced the Funding Year (FY) 2026 FCC Form 471 application filing window dates: WINDOW OPENS Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). WINDOW CLOSES/FINAL DEADLINE TO SUBMIT & CERTIFY FORM 471: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET View the USAC announcement using the button below. Coordinate with your CSM representative regarding timeline planning , finalizing procurement steps, preparing/validating FRNs, and ensuring your Form 471 is submi

On December 17, 2025 , the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau adopted and released the final Eligible Services List (ESL) for Funding Year (FY) 2026 and authorized USAC to open the FCC Form 471 application filing window . CSM expects USAC to announce the filing window soon, and that it will follow a typical cycle: opening mid-January and closing the third week of March. You can read the FCC Order here: FCC FY2026 Eligible Services List Order (DA 25-1069) . CSM is proud to hav

CSM Consulting Inc. is making connections at CITE 2025! We are excited to continue showcasing our expertise and knowledge of the E-Rate program with Sacramento, CA, and the rest of the nation!

On October 15, 2025, CSM submitted comments to the FCC FY 2026 Draft E-Rate Eligible Services List. Due to the federal government shutdown these comments are not yet published on the FCC website under docket 13-184. Our goal is to help simplify the program and align it with how schools and libraries actually purchase and manage technology today. Here’s a quick summary of our key points: We support the FCC’s proposal to move all software licenses under Category Two – In

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking comment on the E-Rate Eligible Services List for Funding Year 2026 . CSM is...

On September 30, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued two decisions that directly impact how schools and libraries...

USAC has released Wave 13 of FY2025 Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDLs) as of July 17, with total commitments now exceeding...

Frank Biehl and Jessica Olsen at our CSM Consulting, Inc. booth for GAMEIS 2025 CSM Consulting Inc. is making connections at GAMEIS 2025,...

Supreme Court Confirms Support for Affordable Connectivity On June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an important decision that...

As part of our commitment to keeping you informed and compliant with E-Rate program requirements, we’re sharing important updates from...