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E-Rate Made Easy

Resources for Education Technology Leaders

Prepare for the pending E-Rate application season with this resource hub. Gain insights on everything from the logistics and requirements of the program to key considerations for optimizing funding.

   

  

As COVID relief funding sunsets this September (funds must be committed by 9/30), the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) annual E-Rate Program will become increasingly important for schools and libraries seeking to refresh and maintain their technology stack. 

To help education leaders understand the timeline, eligibility requirements, and relevant updates to the program—for which 2025 is the last year for the current five-year Category 2 funding cycle (FY2021-2025)—UDT has pulled together a resource covering all things E-Rate. 


E-Rate 2025 Critical Updates and Expert Insights for K12 Leaders

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm (ET)

The federal E-Rate program has been a critical funding channel for school districts since its inception, playing a key role in narrowing the digital divide for K12 communities. Listen to knowledgeable legal and industry experts as they outline recent changes and additions made to the program. 

In this session, we'll cover:

·        Overview of the Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program
·        Analysis of recent circuit court rulings on the constitutionality of the E-Rate program’s funding mechanism
·        Update on E-Rate modernization and newly eligible services
·        Additional Category 1 and 2 filing updates and reminders
·        Update on ongoing advocacy efforts

Gain key insights to leverage during the upcoming funding year and get a better understanding of the current E-Rate landscape.


Speakers:

Keith Krueger
CEO of CoSN 

Gina Spade
Founder, Broadband Legal Strategies

Mike Lauer
Fortinet SLED Capture Director


Supported by

Microsoft_logo
Intel

Bob RichterBob Richter has broad and deep experience with the E-Rate Program from both the applicant and service provider perspectives. From 1996-2003, he was the Executive Director for Technical Services of the Hartford Public School System in Hartford, CT, and had direct responsibility for all Universal Services Fund activity. The E-rate applications he submitted achieved over $35,000,000 in federal funding for the school district and city libraries. From 2004-2009, he was the National E-Rate Program Executive for the IBM Corporation, supporting IBM teams and clients in the K-12 education industry in the east coast of the United States, and left to open his own consulting company, E-Rate Provider Services. He served as a founding director for the E-rate Service Providers Association (ESPA) and is currently a member of the E-rate Management Professionals Association (E-MPA), having just completed a term as the Vice President and Chair of the Advocacy Committee.

George_Fernandez2George Fernandez is the Vice President of Managed Solutions at UDT, a leading technology enabler that helps clients in major industries evaluate, architect, secure and manage technology on premises, in mobile and in the cloud. George has accumulated over 25 years of experience leading the design, development and implementation of high-performance technology and information security and infrastructure solutions and strategies. He has a strong record of success in managing robust IT High Reliable Organizations (HRO) and a proven ability to bring the benefits of IT and IS to solve business issues. As the Vice President of Managed Solutions, George specializes in processes, procedures, solution building, pricing, budgeting, and presentation of technology solutions. Leading the pre-sales and managed solution productization efforts and teams for the Managed IT as a Service division of UDT, his focus is on customer needs and satisfaction.

Kevin HoganIn addition to serving as Content Director for eSchool News, Kevin Hogan is an acclaimed writer, editor, and commentator covering the intersection of society and technology, especially education technology. As a media executive with more than 25 years experience building brands and audiences online, in print, and face to face, Kevin has a strong history of developing successful content distribution models including web sites, electronic newsletters, custom publishing projects, webinars, events agendas, and more, as well as creating and nurturing readership communities.

No time to view the recording? No worries.

Get the most out of the funding and resources available through E-Rate and beyond.

This guide—a culmination of the highlights from our recent webinar—will share insights from UDT presenters Mike Sanchez, CISO & CP of Cybersecurity Solutions, and George Fernandez, VP of Managed Solutions, along with our expert partners from Fortinet, SLED Capture Directors Mike Lauer and Peter Kaplan. Here's what you'll gain:

  • Top cybersecurity challenges facing K12
  • How to fortify cybersecurity with (and without) E-Rate
  • How MIBS helps schools reduce risk
  • Non-E-Rate recurring cybersecurity funding opportunities
  • Navigating cybersecurity (available resources and support services)

Download our free guide now and optimize your E-Rate to enhance your security posture!

Beyond E-Rate: How To Fortify Your Infrastructure with Cybersecurity (Alternative Funding Sources + Free Resources)

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm (ET)

Cybersecurity breaches are on the rise for K12. In fact, nearly 50 school districts have been hit by ransomware attacks in 2023 so far, surpassing 2022 numbers. While the E-Rate Program has been instrumental in providing funding for critical technology infrastructure and services, there remains a notable void in its coverage—cybersecurity funding. Attend this webinar to learn how best to protect your E-Rate eligible equipment and services, then walk away with alternative funding sources and free resources to support your school district's security posture.

In this session, we'll cover:

·        Top cybersecurity threats to K12 with examples
·        Current limitations in E-Rate coverage
·        Potential impact of recent FCC proposal to include cybersecurity funding in E-Rate
·        Alternative funding sources for K12 security infrastructure and services and how to optimize for your school district
·        Free resources for security awareness and training, including Student Cybersecurity Curriculum


Speakers:

George Fernandez
VP, Managed Solutions at UDT 

Mike Sanchez
CISO & SVP Cybersecurity Solutions at UDT

Peter Kaplan
Fortinet SLED Capture Director

Moderator – Kevin Hogan
Content Director, eSchool News 


Supported by

Fortinet-logo

No time to view the recording? No worries.

Get instant insights with our comprehensive guide.

This guide—a culmination of the highlights from our recent webinar—will share insights from presenters Bob Richter, President of E-Rate Provider Services, and George Fernandez, VP of Managed Solutions at UDT. Here's what you'll gain:

  • A timeline of the E-Rate program history
  • A breakdown of the current E-Rate program structure
  • The differences between MIBS and BMIC with affordances and limitations
  • Three methods for acquiring your equipment through E-Rate
  • A look at the potential future for E-Rate

Download our free guide now and optimize your E-Rate experience!

Registrants will benefit from special resources following each part of this series,
including complementary guides and a summative report.

All webinars will include a 45-minute presentation followed by a 15-minute Q&A.
Space is limited, so register now to save your spot. 

Unlock Funding for Your Schools: How to Leverage the E-Rate Program

You can never be too organized when it comes to E-Rate—and it all starts by creating an effective technology roadmap to follow throughout the funding cycle. Attend this webinar to learn about important updates to the E-Rate program from the E-Rate experts at UDT and come away with clearly defined steps for accessing and leveraging E-Rate funding for your schools.

In this session, we’ll cover the following:

·        A brief program history
·        Definition of Managed Internal Broadband Services (MIBS) and how you can leverage E-Rate to tap this resource
·        Your options for obtaining equipment and services with E-Rate
·        The differences between MIBS and basic maintenance
·        How to navigate a possible future under the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)


Speakers:

Bob Richter
President, E-Rate Provider Services 

George Fernandez
VP, Managed Solutions at UDT

Moderator – Kevin Hogan
Content Director, eSchool News 


Supported by

Microsoft_logo

Accomplish More With UDT 

You want the E-Rate process to be easy—and
UDT knows
E-Rate
 

Enjoy a stress-free process and optimize funding around your unique needs with UDT’s dedicated team of experts. With over a decade of experience delivering full-coverage technology and IT solutions to K12 districts around the nation, we at UDT pride ourselves on providing professionalism, ethics, reliability, accuracy, and discernment in helping clients optimize for E-Rate discounts.

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What You Get With UDT 

A Stress-Free E-Rate Experience. We take the post-award grunt work off your plate, so you can focus on other priorities, like delivering top-notch learning experiences for your students. Our primary objective is to help you make the most of the E-Rate process, including optimizing your funding and maintaining 100% compliance with program rules.

The Latest E-Rate Expertise. UDT knows how to juggle the nuances associated with the E-Rate program. We keep everyone on our team—including our experts, leadership, and even our account billing department—trained on the latest in E-Rate to guarantee compliance with program rules and ensure the process remains seamless for you. We are also a part of advocacy organizations like CoSN and utilize the guidance of experienced third-party consultants who’ve worked with school districts and the E-Rate Program for years.  

Full-Coverage E-Rate Delivery Capabilities. Our state-of-the-art Integration and Support Center is equipped with all that is required to order, stage, asset track, install, and manage all E-Rate-eligible equipment. UDT also provides solutions across Lifecycle Services, Cybersecurity, IT Managed Services, Cloud Infrastructure, and more ensuring full coverage for your unique needs.

 

Logistical Support and Collaboration. When we say we will handle all things E-Rate, (within program rules) we mean it. As allowable, UDT can work with you on any paperwork associated with the E-Rate payment and reimbursement process and/or USAC or FCC appeals; track FCC decisions affecting the program and provide guidance; monitor all appeals and audit decisions issued by the FCC; monitor all Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) board meetings and public communications; and communicate regularly with federal and state education officials, FCC and congressional staff, and other members of the technology and education community. 

A Reputation You Can Count On. UDT has supported K12 with world-class technology and IT services since 1995. We currently serve 8 of the 10 largest K12 school districts in the nation and rank among the top 15 Category 2 providers nationwide. We’re also pleased to be expanding services in Category 1. 

Schedule your technology strategy consultation and see how you can benefit from UDT’s full-coverage capabilities. It’s as easy as 1-2-3.

Contact UDT today to learn more about how we can help you get the most out of E-Rate.
Click the button, call (800) 882-9919 or visit udtonline.com.
 

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Using E-Rate for MIBS offers a multitude of advantages for educational institutions seeking to enhance their digital learning environments. Compare and discover the benefits that set it apart from BMIC.

07.10.2024_Blog Image What the FCCs Cybersecurity Pilot Program Means for Schools

What the FCC’s Cybersecurity Pilot Program Means for Schools

The FCC’s Cybersecurity Pilot Program is a strategic move to protect data and privacy in our nation’s K12 schools and libraries, addressing the rising tide of cyber threats.

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E-Rate Needs Cybersecurity Funding—What This Decision Would Mean for K12 

While the E-Rate Program has been instrumental in providing funding for critical technology infrastructure and services, there remains a notable void in its coverage—cybersecurity funding.

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Your Guide To E-Rate 2023-2024: Application Timeline, Eligibility, and More

As COVID relief funding sunsets next September 2024, the E-Rate Program will become increasingly important for schools and libraries seeking to refresh and maintain their technology stack.

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Copyright © 2024 United Data Technologies, All rights reserved.

For detailed guidance and support on the E-rate program, including specific guidelines pertaining to eligibility, application procedures, and program rules, please consult the Federal Communications website at www.fcc.gov and Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) at www.usac.org.

The information provided in this content is for general educational purposes and does not constitute professional or legal advice.  United Data Technologies, Inc. (UDT) make no warranty, express or implied, nor assume any legal liability or any responsibility for the accuracy, correctness, completeness, or any actions taken on the information provided.  Always consult a qualified professional for specific guidance.

*Please refer to the Universal Service Administrative Company for additional information, including their “How to File an FCC Form 470” learning module and “FCC Form 470 Services Guiding Statements Reference Table FY2025” to help get started with the FY2025 competitive bidding process. 

Aug. 2, 2024 (USAC Announcement) - The learning module walks applicants through the steps for submitting Category 1 and Category 2 bid requests for School Bus Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Hotspots for Off-Premises Use equipment and services. The guiding statements document provides a table to help determine which dropdown menus to select on the FCC Form 470 when requesting specific types of equipment and services.