Skip to main content
  • For Parents
  • For Educators
  • Our Work and Impact
Language:
Español (próximamente) - volver al inicio
  • Donate
Sign up for updates
  • Our Work and Impact
    • Col 1
      • Media Choice
      • Digital Equity
      • Digital Literacy and Citizenship
      • Tech Accountability
      • Healthy Childhood
    • GetMyInternet.org

    • What are Kids Doing in the Metaverse?

  • Our Research
    • Col 1
      • Our Current Research
      • Past Research
      • Archived Datasets
    • Who Is the "You" in YouTube?

    • State of Kids' Privacy 2021

  • Press and News
    • Col 1
      • News
      • Press Releases
      • Statements
      • Our CEO
      • Our Experts
      • Our Perspectives
      • Public Filings and Letters
    • Common Sense Education Celebrates a Decade of Leadership in Digital Citizenship

    • Common Sense Media Launches Spanish Language Ratings and Reviews

  • About Us
    • Col 1
      • How We Work
      • Diversity and Inclusion
      • Meet Our Team
      • Board of Directors
      • Board of Advisors
      • Our Partners
      • How We Rate and Review Media
      • How We Rate and Review for Learning
      • Our Offices
  • Get Involved
    • Col 1
      • Donate
      • Join as a Parent
      • Join as an Educator
      • Sign Up for Our Newsletters
      • Request a Speaker
      • Attend an Event
      • Events for Educators
      • We're Hiring
  • Donate

E-rate Toolkit

Common Sense Kids Action and the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) have collaborated to help finish the job of connecting every school and library in America to high-speed Internet by helping states and school districts access billions of dollars in the newly modernized federal E-rate program. 

In 2014, the Federal Communications Committee (FCC) modernized the E-Rate program, a nearly 20-year old program that subsidizes communications projects for schools and libraries with small fees from telephone bills. The reforms resulted in $9 billion being available for high-speed fiber and Wifi projects at schools and libraries across the country over the next five years.  While nearly all schools and libraries are connected to the Internet, more than 60 percent of schools do not have adequate capacity or speed to perform most functions required in today’s highly digitized learning and administrative environments.

Not all lawmakers and state and district education leaders are aware of or clear about the recent E-Rate changes and have not yet taken advantage of the available funding. Common Sense and SETDA have developed a user-friendly online E-rate toolkit that explains the changes, available funding, and best ways to apply for it. 

Common Sense Kids Action and SETDA will work together this year and in 2016 and 2017 to encourage digital leaders to file applications for E-Rate funding, and Common Sense Kids Action will advocate for states to set aside or appropriate funds that qualify for the new state matching grant created in the modernized E-Rate program that can make local high-speed Internet projects even more affordable.

Interested in learning more about E-rate?

This report highlights the powerful impact of state leadership in driving critical policy decisions at the national and state level to support broadband networks, bandwidth capacity, and Wifi implementation and home access for low-income families. - March 25, 2016

Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century.

We're a nonprofit. Support our work

  • About
    • Column 1
      • Our Work and Impact
      • How We Work
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Meet Our Team
      • Board of Directors
      • Board of Advisors
      • Our Partners
      • Our Offices
      • Press Room
      • Annual Report
      • Contact Us
  • Learn More
    • Column 1
      • Common Sense Media
      • Common Sense Education
      • Digital Citizenship Program
      • Latino Program
      • Privacy Program
      • Research Program
      • Advocacy Program
  • Get Involved
    • Column 1
      • Donate
      • Join as a Parent
      • Join as an Educator
      • Join as an Advocate
      • Get Our Newsletters
      • Request a Speaker
      • Events
      • Events for Educators
      • Apply for Free Internet
      • We're Hiring

Follow Common Sense Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Contact us / Privacy / / Terms of use / Community guidelines
© Common Sense Media. All rights reserved. Common Sense and other associated names and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN: 41-2024986).