Eligible

Ineligible

Data Transmission Services and Internet Access are eligible for E-Rate. Examples: Ethernet Leased Lit Fiber Leased Dark Fiber Broadband over Power Lines Self-Provisioned Broadband Networks Satellite Services Wireless (e.g. fixed wireless, microwave) NEW New FY2024: Bus Wi-Fi Network Equipment/Mobile Service for Buses NEW New FY2025: Wi-Fi Hotspot Devices/Wireless Internet Services for Off-Premises Use Eligible costs include monthly charges, special construction, installation and activation charges, software, and modulating electronics and other equipment necessary to make a Category One wired or wireless broadband service functional. Maintenance and operations charges, including costs of software needed for the operation of or maintenance of network equipment are eligible. Network equipment and maintenance and operation costs for existing networks are eligible. All equipment and services, including maintenance and operation, must be competitively bid.

E-Rate support is not eligible for: any voice services including but not limited to voice channels, telephone services and circuit capacity dedicated to providing voice services components of telephone service (such as directory assistance charges, custom calling services, direct inward dialing, and 900/976 call blocking) services that may use broadband but do not provide it, including e-mail, voice mail, and web hosting text messaging and paging applications and content equipment such as computers, laptops, tablets, and all other end-user devices inside wire maintenance plans staff salaries and labor costs for personnel of the applicant or underlying beneficiary Off-campus use of E-Rate funded Internet and Transport services (with the exception of bus wi-fi and hotpots) is ineligible for support even if used for an educational purpose, and must be cost allocated out of any funding request.

Broadband Internal Connections

Support is available for broadband connections used for educational purposes within, between, or among instructional buildings that comprise a school campus or library branch. Services cannot extend across a public right-of-way beyond the school or library facility. Eligible Internal Connections must be located at the applicant site and must be necessary to transport information to classrooms or publicly accessible rooms of a library.

Eligible

Ineligible

Internal connections support is limited to those broadband distribution services and equipment needed to deliver broadband to students and library patrons. antennas, connectors, and related components used for internal broadband connections cabling caching (including caching service, caching equipment or components, caching servers) firewall services and firewall components separate from basic firewall protection provided as a standard component of a vendor's Internet access service racks that house eligible equipment routers network switches uninterruptable power supply that supports eligible equipment access points used in a LAN or WLAN wireless controller systems improvements, upgrades, and software necessary to distribute high-speed broadband throughout school buildings and libraries cloud-based functionality of eligible equipment, such as cloud wireless controllers, are eligible. licenses for eligible equipment software that supports eligible equipment taxes, surcharges and other similar reasonable charges shipping charges training on how to use eligible equipment installation and configuration (no longer has to be provided by the equipment vendor)

To focus support on only those internal connections necessary to enable high-speed broadband connectivity, E-Rate support for the following is ineligible: circuit cards/components interfaces gateways servers (exception: servers necessary for caching) software (exception: the software that supports eligible broadband internal connections) storage devices telephone components video components voice over IP or video over IP components data protection components, such as virtual private networks (exceptions: firewalls and uninterruptible power supply/battery backup)

Basic Maintenance of Eligible Broadband Internal Connections

Support is available for basic maintenance and technical support appropriate to maintain reliable operation when provided for eligible broadband internal connections. Support for basic maintenance will be paid for actual work performed and parts repaired or replaced. Basic maintenance is eligible for support only if it is a component of a maintenance agreement or contract for eligible broadband internal connections - the components themselves must be eligible for discounts for their associated basic maintenance services to be eligible.

Eligible	Ineligible
Repair and upkeep of eligible hardware Wire and cable maintenance Configuration changes Basic technical support Software upgrades and patches including bug fixes and security patches The agreement or contract must specifically identify the eligible internal connections covered, including product name, model number, and location.	Basic maintenance does not include: Services that maintain ineligible equipment Upfront estimates that cover the full cost of every piece of eligible equipment Services that enhance the utility of equipment Network management services, including 24-hour network monitoring On-site technical support Unbundled warranties

Managed Internal Broadband Services

Services provided by a third party for the operation, management, and monitoring of eligble broadband internal connections are eligible managed internal broadband services, for example managed Wi-Fi.

Eligible	Ineligible
Management and operation of the LAN/WLAN, including installation, activation, and initial configuration of eligible components, and on-site training on the use of eligible equipment E-Rate support is limited to those expenses or portions of expenses that directly support and are necessary for the broadband connectivity within schools and libraries	Managed voice service