E-Price Funding 12 months 2026 FCC Kind 471 Submitting Window Opens
On December 18, 2025, the Common Service Administrative Firm (USAC) revealed the appliance interval for E-Price funding for the fiscal 12 months 2026! This can be a important likelihood for E-Price candidates to acquire monetary help for important providers and gear that may improve connectivity for faculties and libraries
January 21, 2026 – The FY2026 FCC Kind 471 utility submitting window opens on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at midday ET. This marks the start of the interval throughout which candidates can submit their utility to request funding for eligible providers and gear. Candidates should embrace info on the recipients of providers and repair supplier(s); present detailed descriptions of providers together with prices and dates of service or gear; and certify compliance with program guidelines.
March 4, 2026 – Wednesday, March 4, 2026, is the ultimate day to submit and certify an FCC Kind 470. This type is essential for initiating the aggressive bidding course of for the providers you want to procure. Guarantee it’s filed by this date to fulfill the required 28-day ready interval earlier than you’ll be able to submit your FCC Kind 471.
April 1, 2026 – The submitting window closes on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. That is the final alternative to submit your FCC Kind 471, so make certain all of your documentation and certifications are accomplished by this deadline to safe potential funding.
FCC Replace on Cybersecurity Pilot Initiative
Preliminary funding commitments have begun.
On December 17, 2025, the FCC issued its first Funding Dedication Choice Letters (FCDLs), allocating $18.8 million to 140 candidates.
This dataset sheds gentle on the $200 million pilot program’s progress, highlighting nationwide engagement, participant priorities, and the preliminary funding commitments made in December.
Though this system remains to be in its early levels, this preliminary dataset supplies beneficial insights into the methods faculties and libraries are adopting for cybersecurity investments and the way the pilot might affect future coverage choices.
With a substantial funds nonetheless obtainable and plenty of purposes below evaluate, further rounds of funding commitments are anticipated.
Streamlined Cybersecurity Options for Colleges and Libraries Cisco is devoted to simplifying the acquisition of safe networking applied sciences for faculties and libraries by providing options which are easy to acquire, implement, and use. These options will harness the Cybersecurity Pilot funding to empower academic establishments to foster inclusive studying for everybody.
Choices will embrace optimum networking and superior security measures tailor-made to totally different faculty sizes. Cisco is dedicated to addressing the cybersecurity wants of faculties and libraries.
To enhance this program, Cisco is worked up to supply College and Libraries Cybersecurity bundles. These bundles present complete options tailor-made to guard your establishment’s digital belongings.
For added info, see my earlier weblog Okay-12 Colleges and Libraries: Key Insights on FCC’s $200M Cybersecurity Pilot and Cisco Simplified Options.
FCC Finalizes Eligible Providers Checklist for FY2026
The FCC has revealed the finalized Eligible Providers Checklist (ESL) for Funding 12 months 2026, formally confirming the
methodology urged earlier this fall. The revised ESL supplies readability on the classification of sure software-based and distant providers below the E-Price program and affords additional steering to assist candidates navigate the appliance and evaluate course of with much less confusion.
Software program-based providers transfer below Inside Connections
One of the vital notable updates to the FY2026 ESL is the reclassification of software-based and distant providers. Beforehand, these providers had been divided between Inside Connections and Primary Upkeep of Inside Connections (BMIC), which regularly led to inconsistent dealing with and errors in purposes.
For FY2026, the FCC has redefined the Inside Connections class to obviously embody:
• Software program-based providers
• Bug fixes and safety patches
• Technical help associated to software program
• Distant configuration changes
Candidates ought to now request these providers alongside the Inside Connections gear they help, fairly than as a part of primary upkeep. The FCC goals to resolve ongoing confusion that has traditionally led to aggressive bidding points and funding denials.
At the side of these adjustments, the FCC has additionally refined the BMIC class. Based on the ultimate ESL:
• Configuration adjustments performed in individual are nonetheless eligible below BMIC.
• On-line and phone-based technical help, software program updates, and safety patches have been excluded from BMIC eligibility.
For extra info, please attain out to Janell Tennyson, E-Price Lead.
