E-Rate
The Universal Service Fund for Schools and Libraries Program is commonly known as the E-Rate Program. It is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) under the direction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The program offers schools and libraries high-speed internet access and telecommunications at discounted rates. For more information, contact VDOE's E-Rate Coordinator/K-12 Specialist: Dr. Mustachio. USAC's helpline can be reached by phone: 888-203-8100.
VITA State Master Contracts:
- Mini-bid step by step process using VITA State master contracts (Word)
- VITA State Master Contracts for Category 1 and Category 2
- VITA Broadband Zip Code Search
- Documents to use for the mini-bid process using VITA state master contracts:
- Mini-Bid Template Letter (Word)
- Mini-bid Worksheet (XLS)
- Service Provider Contact List (XLS) – updated contacts, November 2023 for FY 2024,, for Category 1 only.
- VITA State Master Contracts, FY 2024 for Category 2 Networking Equipment and Services (XLS), updated September 2023
- Bid Evaluation Template (Word)
Virginia Public School Authority (VPSA) for E-Rate
- Virginia Public School Authority (VPSA) documentation to use as state match for special construction
Federal Communications (FCC) & Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)
- The Universal Services Administrative Company (USAC) is an independent not-for-profit designated by the FCC. USAC administers the Universal Service Fund, almost $10 billion available annually to the companies and institutions that make universal service possible
- E-Rate C2 Budget Tool 2021+
- E-Rate Webinars
- E-Rate Central
- Funds For Learning (FFL)
Broadband Information and Maps
Oct 2023 update- The VDOE Office of Educational Technology and Classroom Innovation (OETCI) and VDOE E-Rate Coordinator is collaborating with the state Office of Broadband (OOB) to learn more about the unserved and underserved areas in Virginia with limited to no broadband. There are a number of school buildings in Virginia that do not have Gigabit Symmetrical bandwidth. This means that there are school buildings that have cable, not fiber to the building. The OOB is identifying anchor institutions such as specific school buildings that do not have fiber access. The goal is to use the federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) funds, a total of 1.4B, received by the commonwealth, to fund the Internet Service Providers that serve anchor institutions such as schools with fiber broadband. This means that the school buildings that do not currently have Gig Internet, will have it in the future as a result of the BEAD funding. A list of school buildings that do not have Gig Internet, will be sent to school division technology directors via the MS Teams Channel for VA Technology Directors and the VDOE E-Rate Listserv in the coming weeks. If you see a school building on the list in your school division, please take note that there will be a future upgrade through BEAD or other state broadband funding. For more information, contact VDOE's E-Rate Coordinator/K-12 Specialist: Dr. Mustachio.