UCF Technology
eRate Presentation
February 2025 Work Session
Topics Covered
Future of
Funding of
What is
eRate
eRate
eRate
How we use
History of
eRate
eRate
What is eRate
A program created by the Federal Government in 1996 to provide discounts of up to 90 percent to help eligible schools and libraries in the United States obtain affordable telecommunications and internet access.
History of eRate
In 1996 Congress passed legislation to create the eRate program
Developed to provide schools affordable telephone and internet access
In 1996 only 14% of all private and public K-12 schools had internet access
1996 - 2014
The vast majority of those 14% had dialup internet
eRate is known as Education Rate
Purpose was to make telephone and internet costs affordable to get all schools connected
- Known as Category 1 Funding - Program Cap was set to 2.25 billion dollars
In 2014, 77% of all schools met the standard of 100mbps per 1,000 students
History of eRate
eRate introduced Category 2 Funding which covered internet connections
-Wireless Access Points -UPS
- Network Switches - Firewalls
Dropped the voice services in Category 1 and only kept the internet services and internal connections
2014 - 2025
- Internet Broaband - Lit and Dark Fiber Services
eRate is known as Education Rate
Funding cap grew from $2.25 billion dollars to $4.4 billion dollars
- Adjustments made it possible for all to receive funding - In 2024:- $1.418 billion dollars was distributed for Category 2 - $1.806 billion dollars was distributed for Category 1
History of eRate
Out of the ~13,000 public and private K-12 school districts - ~8,800 of them used eRate in 2024
Internet costs fell from $7/MB (2014) to now around $0.92/MB (2024)
2014 - 2025
eRate is known as Education Rate
In 2024 ~99.3% of K-12 school districts were connected to the internet.
Current State of eRate
The per student dollar amount is $201.57
No signficant changes to Category 2 equipment eligibility
2026-2030
eRate is known as Education Rate
New 5 Year Deal
Funding of eRate
Not a government grant
Funding of eRate - Category 2
Funding comes from the Federal Universal Service Fee
- Landlines - Cell Phones
Discounts are based on the National School Lunch Program
- Discounts range from 20% to 90% - UCFSD discount is set to 40%
Funding is set to $201.57 per student over a five year period
- UCFSD has ~3,600 students = $725,652 over the five year period - Average ~$80,000 of yearly reimbursement
Funding of eRate - Category 2
Funding of eRate - Category 2
Funding of eRate - Category 2
How UCFSD uses eRate
UCFSD use of eRate
Fund Network Equipment under Cat 2 Funding
-Wireless Access Points -UPS
- Network Switches - Firewalls
2023-24 School Year Funding Received: ~$111,000
Fund Internet and Connectivity under Cat 1 Funding
- Internet Broaband - Lit and Dark Fiber Services
2026 eRate Process
2026 eRate Timeline
April 2026
March 2026
Feb. 2026
Submit all approval paperwork to USAC (eRate)
Bids closes and evaluation process begins
Educate Board on eRate
March 2026
Feb. 2026
Board Presentation and Vote for eRate Approval
eRate Bidding Process underway
2026 UCF Technology eRate Presentation
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Transcript
UCF Technology
eRate Presentation
February 2025 Work Session
Topics Covered
Future of
Funding of
What is
eRate
eRate
eRate
How we use
History of
eRate
eRate
What is eRate
A program created by the Federal Government in 1996 to provide discounts of up to 90 percent to help eligible schools and libraries in the United States obtain affordable telecommunications and internet access.
History of eRate
In 1996 Congress passed legislation to create the eRate program
Developed to provide schools affordable telephone and internet access
In 1996 only 14% of all private and public K-12 schools had internet access
1996 - 2014
The vast majority of those 14% had dialup internet
eRate is known as Education Rate
Purpose was to make telephone and internet costs affordable to get all schools connected
- Known as Category 1 Funding - Program Cap was set to 2.25 billion dollars
In 2014, 77% of all schools met the standard of 100mbps per 1,000 students
History of eRate
eRate introduced Category 2 Funding which covered internet connections
-Wireless Access Points -UPS
- Network Switches - Firewalls
Dropped the voice services in Category 1 and only kept the internet services and internal connections
2014 - 2025
- Internet Broaband - Lit and Dark Fiber Services
eRate is known as Education Rate
Funding cap grew from $2.25 billion dollars to $4.4 billion dollars
- Adjustments made it possible for all to receive funding - In 2024:- $1.418 billion dollars was distributed for Category 2 - $1.806 billion dollars was distributed for Category 1
History of eRate
Out of the ~13,000 public and private K-12 school districts - ~8,800 of them used eRate in 2024
Internet costs fell from $7/MB (2014) to now around $0.92/MB (2024)
2014 - 2025
eRate is known as Education Rate
In 2024 ~99.3% of K-12 school districts were connected to the internet.
Current State of eRate
The per student dollar amount is $201.57
No signficant changes to Category 2 equipment eligibility
2026-2030
eRate is known as Education Rate
New 5 Year Deal
Funding of eRate
Not a government grant
Funding of eRate - Category 2
Funding comes from the Federal Universal Service Fee
- Landlines - Cell Phones
Discounts are based on the National School Lunch Program
- Discounts range from 20% to 90% - UCFSD discount is set to 40%
Funding is set to $201.57 per student over a five year period
- UCFSD has ~3,600 students = $725,652 over the five year period - Average ~$80,000 of yearly reimbursement
Funding of eRate - Category 2
Funding of eRate - Category 2
Funding of eRate - Category 2
How UCFSD uses eRate
UCFSD use of eRate
Fund Network Equipment under Cat 2 Funding
-Wireless Access Points -UPS
- Network Switches - Firewalls
2023-24 School Year Funding Received: ~$111,000
Fund Internet and Connectivity under Cat 1 Funding
- Internet Broaband - Lit and Dark Fiber Services
2026 eRate Process
2026 eRate Timeline
April 2026
March 2026
Feb. 2026
Submit all approval paperwork to USAC (eRate)
Bids closes and evaluation process begins
Educate Board on eRate
March 2026
Feb. 2026
Board Presentation and Vote for eRate Approval
eRate Bidding Process underway