The E-Rate

Since its creation in 1996, the E-Rate -- which provides deep discounts to schools and libraries for telecommunications services, Internet access and internal connections -- has had overwhelming success in connecting our nation's schools and classrooms to the Internet. The program continues to be a vital source of assistance in maintaining connectivity and enhancing learning.

Before the E-Rate came into being, only 3 percent of the nation's classrooms were connected to the Internet. Today, 95 percent of classrooms are connected - and statistics show that classroom Internet access disparities between rural, urban, and suburban schools and high and low-poverty districts have been dramatically reduced.

NEA Executive Director John Wilson took part in a February 2007 Capitol Hill briefing that coincided with the release of "E-Rate: 10 Years of Connecting Kids and Community" (PDF, 1.1MB, 20 pages) that reported E-Rate granted the states discounts totaling nearly $19 billion over the first decade of the program's existence.

Wilson said the difference E-Rate has made in closing the technology gap between lower income and more affluent schools is compelling evidence of its success.

The report credits E-Rate with increasing the overall number of public school classrooms with Internet access from 14 percent in 1996 to 95 percent in 2005. The report said nearly 100 percent of public libraries now provide free Internet access to their communities, an achievement the E-RATE helped to make possible.

The Future of the E-Rate Program

Despite the program's remarkable success, schools and libraries still have considerable technology gaps and a continuing need for E-Rate assistance. Each year, applications for E-Rate funds far exceed the amount available for disbursement.

The Universal Service Administration Corporation (USAC), the entity that administers the E-Rate, estimates that 82 percent of public schools and 61 percent of public libraries receive E-Rate funds.

In 2004, the Federal Communications Commission began subjecting the E-Rate program to arcane accounting rules that effectively stopped the flow of funds to schools and libraries. NEA has secured a series of one-year exemptions from the rules, but a permanent solution is needed.

Help us assure adequate funding for this highly successful program. Urge your elected representatives in Washington to support a permanent solution for the the E-Rate Program.