1. E-Rate
USAC
Universal Service Administration Company

2. E-Rate
• Universal Service Administrative
Company (USAC)
• Administered by the Schools and
Libraries Division (SLD)

3. FCC
• Telecommunications Act of 1996
• Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) adopted Universal
Order 1997
• Program set up in 1997

4. Order
• Designed for schools and libraries
• Affordable access to modern
telecommunications and information services

5. Discounts
• 20-90 percent for eligible telecommunication
services
• Economic need and location (urban or rural)
• Level of discount based on percentage of
participants in National School Lunch Program

6. Amount of Discounts
INCOME Measured by % of students URBAN LOCATION E- Rural Location
eligible for the National School Lunch Rate Discount E-Rate Discount
Program
If the percentage of students in the school …and the school is an …and the school is in
qualifying for the National School Lunch URBAN area, the E- a RURAL area, the E-
Program is rate discount will be... rate discount will be…
Less than 1% 20% 25%
1% to 19% 40% 50%
20% to 34% 50% 60%
35% to 49% 60% 70%
50% to 74% 80% 80%
75% to 100% 90% 90%

7. Application Process
• Schools must have a technology plan before
applying for E-rate.
• You can submit your plan online at
http://www.sl.universalservice.org
• You can also contact Client Service Bureau at
1-888-203-8100

8. Credits/References
• http://wsw2.ed.gov
• http://usac.gov
• http://www.sl.universalservice.org