eRate News

 

What’s Happening in E‑Rate

Funding Waves & FY2025 Status

On January 8, 2026, USAC issued Wave 36 of FY2025 funding, committing approximately $10 million and bringing total FY2025 E‑Rate commitments to $2.51 billion. As of this wave, 94.7 % of applications have been funded, covering 84.8 % of requested dollars—a strong close to the 2025 funding year.

 

FY2026 Application Window Opens

USAC’s announcement confirms the FY2026 FCC Form 471 application filing window opens January 21, 2026 at noon ET and will close April 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applicants must also observe the administrative window closing January 16, 2026, which locks entity profile data in the E‑Rate Productivity Center (EPC). Additionally, to comply with the 28‑day competitive bidding rule, March 4, 2026 is the last day to file a Form 470 and still submit a Form 471 by the filing window’s close.

 

FCC Adopts Final FY2026 ESL

On December 17, 2025, the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau released the final Eligible Services List for FY2026, clarifying eligibility and addressing areas of longstanding confusion, particularly around software‑based and remote services. Under the final ESL, such services now align more clearly with Internal Connections, helping reduce classification errors and competitive bidding issues during application and review.

 

Key Compliance & Procedural Actions

USAC and the FCC continue to emphasize compliance with competitive bidding, timely filings, and documentation standards. Recurring streamlined appeal decisions reinforce procedures for deadline adherence and proper documentation—a critical focus area as applicants navigate the closing months of the FY2025 cycle and the opening of FY2026.

 

Upcoming Deadlines & Action Items

  • January 28, 2026 – FY2024 non‑recurring service invoice deadline (or request extensions).

  • February 19, 2026 – USAC Q&A session on competitive bidding and category budgets.

  • March 4, 2026 – Last day to file and certify FY2026 Form 470 to meet the 28‑day waiting requirement.

  • April 1, 2026 – FY2026 Form 471 window closes.