E-Rate Funding by State

E-Rate is the FCC program, administered by USAC, that helps schools and libraries afford broadband and internal network equipment. It directs more than four billion dollars a year in discounts. FRNHQ indexes the public record behind it, from Form 470 applications to Form 471 funding requests and Item 21 line items across FY2016 through FY2026, so you can see committed dollars, the providers winning the work, and how spending shifts year to year.

Pick a state to see committed funding, the top service providers, category mix, and activity by year, all drawn from public USAC filings.

How the E-Rate process works

Every funded dollar follows the same path. An applicant posts an FCC Form 470, which opens a competitive bidding window that must stay open at least 28 days. Service providers respond with bids, the applicant picks the most cost-effective offer with price as the primary factor, signs a contract, and files a Form 471 during the filing window, typically January through March. USAC reviews each funding request (FRN) and issues commitment decisions through spring and summer. Once service starts, providers and applicants invoice USAC against those commitments.

For a service provider, that sequence is the sales calendar: the 470s posted this fall are the contracts signed this winter and the revenue billed next school year. Our guides break down the 470 timeline, how to read a 470 for winnable bids, the competitive bidding rules that bind providers, and every deadline on the E-Rate calendar.

Category 1 and Category 2

The program funds two kinds of work, and they behave differently as markets. Category 1 pays for connectivity to the building: internet access and data transmission circuits, dominated by multi-year contracts that come up for re-bid when they expire. Category 2 pays for the network inside the building: Wi-Fi, switching, routing, cabling, and maintenance, governed by a per-student budget on a five-year cycle, which makes C2 demand pulse in waves as budgets reset. Each state page splits committed dollars by category so you can see which motion drives that market.

Common questions about E-Rate funding

What is E-Rate funding?
E-Rate is a federal Universal Service program administered by USAC. It gives eligible schools and libraries discounts of 20 to 90 percent on broadband, internet access, and internal network connections, paid from the Universal Service Fund.
How much E-Rate funding does each state receive?
It varies by state, student enrollment, and discount rate. Choose a state below to see total committed dollars across every funding year, the top service providers, and the Category 1 versus Category 2 split.
When is the E-Rate application deadline?
The Form 471 filing window usually opens in January and closes in March for the funding year that starts July 1. Because a Form 470 must sit open for at least 28 days before an applicant can select a vendor, most districts post their 470s between fall and early winter.
What is the difference between Category 1 and Category 2?
Category 1 covers services that bring connectivity to a school or library building, mainly internet access and data transmission such as fiber circuits. Category 2 covers the internal network inside the building, including Wi-Fi access points, switches, routers, and cabling, under a per-student budget that resets on a five-year cycle.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is aggregated from public USAC filings covering FY2016 through FY2026. FRNHQ is an independent product and is not affiliated with USAC.

Also see Rural Health Care (RHC) funding by state.