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Training & Outreach
Pennsylvania E-rate Listserve In order to provide Pennsylvania’s schools and libraries with updated information concerning program changes, pitfalls, filing reminders, funding announcements, and trainings, the Pennsylvania E-rate Coordinator maintains an active one-way listserve. Typically, 8-12 messages are sent per month, depending on program activity. To subscribe, e-mail Julie Tritt Schell at jtschell@e-ratepa.org with your name, organization and e-mail address (e-mail addresses are never shared). A list of previous listserve messages dating back to the program’s inception can be found under the Listserve Archive . E-rate Trainings Training Class Date Registration Ask Me Anything E-rate Zoom! 3/19/25, 11 AM Ask Me Anything E-rate Zoom! 3/25/25, 2:30 PM Category 2 Form 471 Training 2/20/25, 1-2 PM Completed Category 1 Form 471 Training 2/20/25, 11 AM-12 PM Completed Category 1 CABIO Form 471 Training 2/18/25, 10-10:30 AM Completed E-rate Changes and Updates: FY 2025 and Beyond PETE&C – PDF 2/9/25, 2:30 PM Completed E-rate Training for Beginners PETE&C – PDF 2/9/25, 10:30 AM Completed Category 2 Eligibility & Form 470/Bidding for Non-Public Schools and Libraries – PDF 11/14/24, 10-11:30 AM Completed Category 2 Eligibility & Form 470/Bidding for Public School – PDF 11/12/24, 9:30-11 AM Completed Category 1 Eligibility & Form 470/Bidding – All Applicants – PDF 11/6/24, 9:30-11 AM Completed E-rate Beginners' Training for Libraries – PDF 10/24/24, 1-3 PM Completed E-rate Beginners' Training for Non-Public Schools – PDF 10/23/24, 9-11 AM Completed E-rate Beginners' Training for Public Schools – PDF 10/22/24, 1-3 PM Completed Hotspot Lending Program Training – PDF 10/17/24, 10-11 AM Completed Veterans’ Training – PDF 10/16/24, 1-2:30 PM Completed Cybersecurity Pilot Intro Webinar 8/14/24, 3 PM Completed E-rate Update for Career & Technical Centers (CTCs) 7/24/2024 Completed Ask Me Anything E-rate...
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Where to Start
Entering E-rate: Where to Start E-rate is a daunting process for those new to the program. Not only do they have to learn and understand the intricate rules, but they also have to jump into the E-rate process mid-funding year cycle and determine what’s been done thus far, and what remains to be completed for previous and upcoming funding years. The purpose of this Guide is to assist new E-rate contacts with this process so they can be certain that no deadlines have been missed and all eligible funding has been collected. E-rate Onboarding Guide The Guide contains five sections: Program Overview and Resources – p.1 Initial Questions for New E-rate Contacts – p.3 Upcoming Funding Year Application Steps (FY 2022: 7/1/2023 – 6/30/2024) – p.5 Current Funding Year Application Steps (FY 2021: 7/1/2022 – 6/30/2023) – p.13 Previous Funding Year Application Steps (FY 2020: 7/1/2021 – 6/30/2022) – p.18 Brief Program Overview The Schools and Libraries (E-rate) Program provides discounts to eligible K-12 public and private schools and public libraries in order to obtain affordable internet access and telecommunications services. E-rate funds the following service types: Data Transmission Services and/or Internet Access (called Category 1); and Internal Connections, Managed Internal Broadband Services, and Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections (called Category 2). Discounts range from 20-90 percent of the costs of eligible services, depending on the level of poverty and the urban/rural status. In order to receive E-rate discounts, schools and libraries must competitively bid on the USAC website the eligible services for which they may be seeking discounts in the upcoming funding year, and after a minimum of 28 days, select the most cost-effective proposal. E-rate funding is...
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PA E-rate Funding Analysis
Since the program’s inception in 1998, Pennsylvania’s 1000+ public and non-public schools, and libraries have received more than $1.8 billion in federal E-rate funding. Thanks to this funding, Pennsylvania’s students, educators and library patrons have affordable broadband, Internet and networking equipment, thus providing access to the vast, worldwide supply of information and resources. To view granular information about Pennsylvania’s E-rate funding commitments, use USAC’s Open Data Platform. Year-by-Year E-rate Funding Summary ...
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