CSM ADVOCACY ALERT: FCC REQUESTS COMMENTS ON E-RATE ELIGIBLE SERVICES LIST FOR FUNDING YEAR 2026

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking comment on the E-Rate Eligible Services List for Funding Year 2026. CSM is recommending that our customers consider submitting brief comments by the October 15, 2025 deadline or reply comments by the October 30 deadline. While no new services have been proposed, the FCC is looking to simplify applying for pre-paid maintenance contracts and seeks comment on Managed Internal Broadband Services. 

How this impacts your organization’s funding: 

Multi-Year Basic Maintenance Contracts 

The FCC is proposing to re-classify certain software- or remote-based services, including bug fixes, security patches, software-based technical assistance, and configuration changes as Internal Connections. This will enable applicants to request funding in full in the first year of a multi-year prepaid contract. Before this change, applicants were required to amortize the value of the contract over multiple funding years, delaying receipt of important E-Rate funds. 

Managed Internal Broadband Services 

The FCC is asking very broadly if there are benefits to funding managed services such as network operations, management, and monitoring. If your organization receives E-Rate funding for these services or is considering applying for funding for these services in the future, consider sharing why you think funding these services is important and cost effective. 

How to submit comments to the FCC: 

You have two choices for submitting comments.  

• You may submit comments via a text box in Express Comments  

• You may submit a letter or other attachment to the FCC  

• The system will prompt you to identify a proceeding: the proceeding to cite is 13-184 

All comments are posted in the public record. To view comments others have posted, click on this link: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/results?q=(proceedings.name:(%2213-184%22)). The reply comment period allows for you to file in support of or against comments proposed during the initial comment period. As always, reach out to your CSM consultant for assistance or with any questions. We are here to help!