E-Rate Report 2019

What is E-Rate and how does it affect schools and technology vendors? E-Rate is a fund set-up by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide advanced and affordable telecommunications services for schools and libraries at reasonable rates regardless of location. The E-Rate program has a budget capped at $4.5 Billion each year, each year fueling thousands of connectivity new business opportunities from school districts and libraries. E-Rate has helped countless schools improve their wireless and wired infrastructure and obtaining broadband internet service.  It also creates a large market for vendors who want to sell these products and services to schools.
 
Below is a graph showing the percentage of E-Rate solicitations CJIS GROUP tracked by quarter in 2019:


                             

As you can see 95% of E-Rate solicitations tracked by CJIS GROUP were released either in Q1 or Q4. Generally, these solicitations are timed so the actual work is done when school is not in session (i.e., the Summer).  Thus, the time is right now for you to make sure you are aware of E-Rate 2020 opportunities. Do you want to learn more about E-Rate projects? Click here and a CJIS GROUP representative will be happy to provide additional details regarding our E-Rate coverage and technology projects in public education in general.