E-Rate
The Schools and Libraries program, also called the E-Rate program, makes Internet access service more affordable for schools and libraries in America. Congress mandated in 1996 that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) use the federal Universal Service Fund to provide support to companies that give discounts to eligible schools and libraries. The Universal Service Administrative Co. (USAC) administers the E-rate program for the federal government. More information on E-rate.
Contributions from telecommunications companies provide discounts of 50-90% on the cost of Internet access, and network wiring within library and school buildings. Libraries and schools in low-income urban communities and rural areas qualify for the highest discounts to assure that every American, regardless of age, income, or location, has access to the Internet.
All libraries that receive E-Rate discounts for Internet Access, Internal Connections, Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections or Managed Internal Broadband Services must be compliant with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).
E-Rate Forms and Timeline
Each year, libraries that wish to receive E-rate discounts must file three forms with USAC: Form 470, Form 471 and Form 486.
E-rate Form 470 opens the required bidding process for internet service providers. Service providers review the posted FCC Form 470 information and submit bids. Libraries compare received bids on a Bid Matrix to choose a service provider. Libraries must wait at least 28 days between filing Form 470 and Form 471 to allow time for the bidding process.
E-rate Form 471 is the actual E-rate application to request discounts on eligible services and equipment for the upcoming funding year. Applicants must include information on the recipients of services and service provider(s); provide detailed descriptions of services including costs and dates of service or equipment; and certify compliance with program rules.
E-Rate Form 486 notifies USAC that services have started for the library and certifies that the library is in compliance with CIPA. Libraries must receive a Funding Commitment Decision Letter email notification from USAC before completing this form. Libraries have 120 days from receipt of the notification to file.
Timeline for Funding Year July 1, 2025- June 30, 2026
| Form | Status | Important Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Form 470 | OPEN | Deadline: Undetermined but sometime in February 2025. *LRTs will take E-rate appointments for filing this form beginning November 2025. |
| Form 471 | CLOSED | Filing window: Undetermined |
| Form 486 | n/a | 120 days from receiving Funding Commitment Decision Letter from USAC |
USAC Portal for Filing E-Rate Forms
Use the link below to login to the USAC portal application dashboard to complete the forms when the filing windows are open. Your District LRT can assist you in navigatin the portal and completing any of the forms. Please note: Chrome is the recommended browser to use when completing these forms.
Helpful Tips for Form 470
Copy and paste the following narrative into the text box when you reach that step in the online form 470. Update the text with your own library name, location, and internet capacity:
The [XYZ] Library is not seeking a standalone lit fiber circuit nor are they seeking a standalone Internet access only service (with no transport). This library is seeking a bundled Internet Access service (IA and associated transport). This service is to be delivered to the library at [street address and city].
The library seeks bids for Internet at the following capacities: 25 Mbps to 1 Gbps. Interested vendors should also provide the following information in their bids: (a) Indicate the type of connectivity (e.g. fiber, coaxial, microwave, etc.); (b). Indicate whether E-Rate C1 eligible bundled firewall is provided; (c). Identify any E-Rate ineligible charges (such as DDoS). Library reserves the right to cancel this request for bids and to reject all related proposals.
By submitting a bid on the requested services herein, the vendor certifies its proposed prices are consistent with the FCC’s Lowest Corresponding Price (“LCP”) requirements and that its equipment and services are compliant with the FCC’s recent Order (FCC 19-121) prohibiting the sale, provision, maintenance, modification, or other support of equipment or services provided or manufactured by Huawei, ZTE, or any other “covered company” deemed a national security threat.
Deadline for vendor proposals is 9:00 am Central time, 29 days after the date this Form 470 is posted. We reserve the right to reject late-submitted proposals. Proposals must be e-mailed to the Form 470 contact unless otherwise noted. SPAM and/or robotic responses will not be considered valid bid responses and will be disqualified from consideration.
Bid Matrix
After you file a Form 470, but before you file a Form 471, you must fill out the Bid Matrix. This Bid Matrix can be a very simple one page chart where you give points comparing the bids that you received from service providers for the services that you asked for in your Form 470. The one guiding rule is that cost must be the most heavily weighted factor, although you can use as many other factors as you wish.
The Bid Matrix needs to be filled out, signed and dated, and then kept in your E-rate files for your library. You MUST produce this Bid Matrix if you are ever audited by E-rate auditors in a review. Unsubstantiated documentation can result in loss of funds.
Helpful Tips for Form 471
This form is known as the actual E-Rate application. It is the most time consuming of the forms and the most complicated. State Library LRTs have been trained in the Form 471 and can help you as well with your application needs. Please don't hesitate to contact your district staff if you have any questions regarding the Form 471.
Do not wait until the last minute to file this form. It can take a significant amount of time to complete the application. Click the link below to walk through E-Rate Form 471.
Note: These slides show the 2024/2025 application year. There is a small narrative box on this form. In that section, you will want to name your library, the service provider which you have chosen, the internet speed you will be receiving (in Mbps or Gbps), whether it is via fiber, cable modem, or dsl.
Helpful Tips for Form 486
There is no filing window for Form 486; libraries have 120 days from receiving the Funding Commitment Decision Letter from USAC. View step-by-step instructions for completing Form 486 below: