E-Rate

Image of students working on a computer.
Carlos Barquero Perez/iStock/Getty
Law & Courts Supreme Court Weighs High-Stakes Fraud Issue for E-Rate Program
The justices appear to lean toward a ruling that could help keep schools from being overcharged by telecommunications companies.
Mark Walsh, November 4, 2024
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8 min read
The Supreme Court on Wednesday afternoon, April 19, 2023, in Washington.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday afternoon, April 19, 2023, in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Law & Courts What's Ahead for Education This Supreme Court Term? Trans Rights, E-Rate, and More
The justices have one major case on transgender medical care on their docket and others pending on gender-identity issues in schools.
Mark Walsh, October 4, 2024
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10 min read
FILE - The Supreme Court is seen under stormy skies in Washington, June 20, 2019. In the coming days, the Supreme Court will confront a perfect storm mostly of its own making, a trio of decisions stemming directly from the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
The Biden administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court—shown here in June 2019—to reinstate a funding mechanism that distributes $2 billion annually for the E-rate program that supports internet connectivity in schools and libraries. A federal appeals court ruled that the mechanism was unconstitutional in July.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Law & Courts Biden Administration Asks Supreme Court to Spare Huge E-Rate Funding Source
A lower court ruling has jeopardized more than $2 billion in annual funding for internet connectivity for schools and libraries.
Mark Walsh, October 1, 2024
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3 min read
Photograph of a young girl reading, wearing headphones and working at her desk at home with laptop near by.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Ed-Tech Policy E-Rate Is in Legal Jeopardy. Here’s What Schools Stand to Lose
The FCC released a fact sheet about how the E-rate helps schools in response to a court ruling that threatens the program's funding.
Lauraine Langreo, August 14, 2024
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1 min read
Photo of teenage girl using laptop computer in school library.
E+
Ed-Tech Policy Billions of Dollars for Ed Tech in Schools Are Now in Jeopardy. Here's Why
A federal appeals court ruling has put the funding mechanism for the nearly 30-year-old E-rate program in legal jeopardy.
Alyson Klein, July 25, 2024
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5 min read
Photo of a blurred image of a female student in the background working on a laptop at home with a closeup of the modem router on the table in the forefront.
iStock/Getty
Ed-Tech Policy FCC Update to E-Rate Program Will Help Students Do Homework Anywhere
Supporters say the change aligns with the realities of today's education landscape.
Lauraine Langreo, July 18, 2024
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3 min read
Student at computer from home, doing school work with wifi connection icon images overlaying image.
Liz Yap/Education Week and E+/Getty.
Ed-Tech Policy Q&A How the FCC Wants to Tackle the 'Homework Gap'
The FCC approved an expansion of the E-rate program to include Wi-Fi hotspots.
Lauraine Langreo, July 15, 2024
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4 min read
The Supreme Court building is seen on June 13, 2024, in Washington.
The Supreme Court building is seen on June 13, 2024, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Law & Courts Why the $4.5 Billion School E-Rate Program Is Headed to the Supreme Court
The justices will decide whether allegations of overcharging under the telecom-funded program may be brought under the False Claims Act.
Mark Walsh, June 17, 2024
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6 min read
Photograph of a school bus loading children on a busy road.
Greg Randles/iStock
Ed-Tech Policy FCC: Schools Can Use E-Rate Funds to Cover WiFi on Buses
The change will help students with long commutes to and from school study and complete homework, supporters say.
Alyson Klein, October 19, 2023
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2 min read
Dollar Sign Made of Circuit Board on Motherboard and CPU.
iStock/Getty
Privacy & Security E-Rate Money for Cybersecurity? Schools Want It to Be a Top Funding Priority
The federal E-rate program has the potential to help schools build better defenses against cyberattacks.
Arianna Prothero, October 17, 2023
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3 min read
School kids looking at a girl's mobile phone across the aisle of a school bus.
iStock/Getty
Ed-Tech Policy Proposal to Use E-Rate for Wi-Fi on School Buses and Hotspots Runs Into GOP Opposition
Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers asked the FCC to “rescind this unlawful plan to vastly expand the E-Rate program.”
Lauraine Langreo, August 23, 2023
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5 min read
Image of a security symbol on a laptop.
filo/DigitalVision Vectors
Ed-Tech Policy 'Cybersecurity Is Huge.' Educators Make the Case for More Federal Funding
Major education organizations have told the FCC that they want to use E-rate dollars for advanced internet security firewalls.
Alyson Klein, February 16, 2023
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3 min read
Illustration of Internet network data computer laptop security shield and lock symbol.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Ed-Tech Policy E-Rate Money for Cybersecurity? The FCC Is About to Get an Earful From Schools
There are some strong, opposing opinions about whether the federal program should pay for cybersecurity.
Alyson Klein, December 14, 2022
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4 min read
Illustration of boy with a cellphone and boy at a desk with a laptop with WiFi error messages and symbols around them.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Ed-Tech Policy Home Internet for Students or District Cybersecurity: Where Should the Money Go?
The homework gap persists at the same time that cyberattacks against schools are on the rise.
Alyson Klein, October 24, 2022
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4 min read
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