FIREWORKS IN THE E-RATE PROGRAM

17 hours ago
3 min read

While many applicants prepared to celebrate our nation’s 250^th 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 to ‘reduce or sunset’ the program—among other penetrating questions.

Nationwide, overworked Superintendents and Tech Directors responded with their own rocket’s red glare and put fingers to keyboard to state through the night, that our Internet need was still there. As of this writing, more than half dozen applicants have already submitted comments before official publication in the federal register—and hundreds more are expected. Our Star-Spangled banner reads, ‘Internet makes education possible. Without E-Rate, there is no Internet.’ We are the home of the brave.

READ THE NPRM

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-26-41A1.pdf

STATEMENT FROM

STATEMENT FROM

STATEMENT FROM

Comments due dates are contingent on the publication in the Federal Register (60 days) but are estimated to be due mid-September. Reply comments will be due 30 days after that, estimated to be mid-October.

CLIENT SPOTLIGHT

FIRST CSM CLIENT SUBMITS COMMENTS TO NPRM

On what will be the first of many comments submitted to the NPRM by applicants represented by CSM, Scott Buller, Chief Technology Officer of Paso Robles Joint Unified School District stated the following about the E-Rate Program:


	"I began my career in education when connectivity was still something teachers worked around. That era is over. Instruction today is delivered through connected tools — not as enrichment, but as the medium itself. In California, our state assessments are administered entirely online. Digital curriculum, formative assessment, and the accessibility tools that serve students with disabilities and English learners all assume a reliable network. A teacher who loses that connection does not lose a convenience; they lose the platform their entire lesson is built on. E-Rate is a large part of why that platform exists in districts that could never fund it alone."
			SCOTT BULLER Chief Technology Officer Paso Robles Joint Unified School District

Scott’s full NPRM comments are a must-read. They are impactful, passionate, full of heart and details, and are exactly the type of E-Rate success stories applicants should be focusing on when submitting your own comments. Your stories are powerful. Give them voice with your words. The FCC needs to hear your passion, in your own words.

Thank you, Scott Buller, for being a trailblazer and lighting the way for others to follow.

Read both of Scott Buller's Comments to the NPRM below.

READ COMMENT

CALL TO ACTION SUBMITTING YOUR COMMENTS TO THE FCC
When writing your comments to the FCC NPRM, consider the following questions:		What does the E-Rate program mean to you as an educator? What does E-Rate make possible in your district? What is your E-Rate success story? What would happen if E-Rate funding were reduced or eliminated? What programs or services might you need to cut to cover unexpected Internet costs—such as teachers, extracurricular activities, sports teams, or other supports—so students can continue learning? Would your district have to forgo Internet connectivity altogether?

In short, if E-Rate funding were reduced or removed, and your district had to pay 100% of your Internet Access services, how would that change learning in your district?

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN COMMENTS TO THE FCC FOR THIS NPRM

CSM has prepared a short how-to video of how to submit express comments to the FCC NPRM, which is linked above. Express comments are text-only and must be copied and pasted into the brief comments field.

For longer comments, or if you wish to attach the word or PDF directly to the comment instead of copy and paste, you can submit a Standard Filing, by navigating to www.fcc.gov, select Submit a Filing, and then Standard Filing. You should reference dockets 13-184, 26-133, 21-93 and 21-455, indicate that the type of filing is COMMENT and reference file number FCC 26-41 as the file number. Please use the screenshot to the right as a guide.

AFTER SUBMITTING COMMENTS TO THE FCC

CSM would like to hear from you when you submit your comments. Please send copies of your comments to your CSM consultant. In addition, the Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB) has partnered with COSN (Consortium for School Networking) to enable you to submit your comments to Congressional offices.

Simply go to https://www.shlb.org/save-our-e-rate and submit your comments to your Congressperson and Senators.

SEND COMMENTS

	SHLB WEBINAR THE FUTURE OF E-RATE July 16, 2026 \| 2:00 PM (EDT), 11:00 AM (PDT)
	SHLB WEBIINAR