The E-Rate program has been a key catalyst in getting every school in the country connected to the Internet. Today, it continues to be a key driver for providing schools with affordable broadband access with dollars from the Federal Communications Commission’s Universal Service Fund (USF).
However, after 30 years, E-Rate is facing a major shakeup. In the wake of a 2025 Supreme Court case upholding the constitutionality of the E-Rate funding mechanism, a bipartisan, bicameral group of members of Congress have asked for feedback on how to reform and refocus the program. And in a move that has caused significant concern among schools, libraries, and broadband equity advocates, the FCC is seeking comments on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that could completely upend E-Rate as we know it.
One area where there is increasing consensus is the need to incorporate cybersecurity into connectivity funding. E-Rate currently severely limits the types of cybersecurity technologies that are eligible for program funding, despite the steady drumbeat of cyber incidents affecting school districts.
Last month, a blue ribbon task force co-chaired by former FCC Commissioners released a report on the future of E-Rate. Building cybersecurity into the program was one of six key recommendations put forward by the task force.
As part of IST’s continued exploration of policy measures to help under-resourced critical infrastructure address cyber threats, please join us for a webinar with members of the task force. We will discuss the FCC’s cybersecurity pilot, the task force’s recommendations, and the broader context of E-Rate reform, all with a view toward how the program can help schools defend against nation-state adversaries and cyber criminals.
Panelists:
Narda Jones – Fellow, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
Joseph Wender – Executive Director, SHLB Coalition
Erin Mote – CEO, InnovateEDU
Michael Klein – Senior Director for Preparedness and Response, IST
Nicholas Leiserson (moderator) – President, Cybersecurity & Critical Infrastructure, IST
