2027 DRAFT ELIGIBLE SERVICES LIST IS RELEASED FOR COMMENT

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 to the ESL for 2027 but is requesting comments on two sections: Managed Internal Broadband Services (MIBS) and Network as a Service (NaaS). In particular, the FCC wants comments on the cost effectiveness of MIBS contracts (and has asked the same questions in the NPRM): How do applicants differentiate between the eligible services for MIBS (internal connections, license management, maintenance) and ineligible services (supplementing the applicant’s IT department staff or providing support for ineligible components –phone network, security systems, etc.) which are sometimes bundled into MIBS contracts. If you have MIBS, please review your contract language with your CSM consultants to make sure that any ineligible service is cost allocated out of the funding request.