E-Rate Training:

Head Start Grantees, Head Start Consultants, or Head Start Service Providers are eligible to receive E-Rate training on this topic courtesy of the Office of Head Start.  Please call toll free 1-866-878-6032 to learn more or to reserve a time for you or your staff.

What is E-Rate?

The Universal Service Fund (USF) Schools and Libraries Program provides discounts to schools and libraries within the United States and its territories for telecommunications and internet access in order to make these services more affordable.  The E-Rate (Education Rate) is another name commonly used to for this program.

Schools, libraries, Head Start Grantees, State Pre-K programs, Juvenile Justice programs, Adult Education programs or consortia of these entities are eligible for E-Rate support in most states.  Discounts or the amount of money refunded to applicants are based on the percentage of students eligible for the National School Lunch Program. Eligible organizations (entities) serving in low income communities and rural areas qualify for the highest discounts to help assure that every American regardless of age, income, or location has access to the essential tools of the information age.  In eligible states, Head Start is automatically eligible for discounts at 90%.

The E-Rate Program is funded at up to $2.25 billion per program year (July 1 – June 30) from the Universal Service Fund.  E-Rate provides discounts on the cost of telecommunications (e.g. cell phone service, local and long distance service etc.), internet access (e.g. internet access services, email, etc.) internal connections (e.g. routers, switches, cables, etc.), and basic maintenance of internal connections. The discounts are paid directly to the applicant who provides the local community with education services (Head Start Grantee, School District or School, Library etc.).

The Schools and Library Program is administered by the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service Administrative Company, a non-for-profit corporation overseen by the Federal Communications Commission, to ensure that the benefits of universal service reach communities across the country.  The official web site for E-Rate is located at http://www.usac.org.
Acklin & Associates provides consulting services for E-Rate.  Services include assistance with completing forms, FCC/USAC rule compliance, and assistance for E-Rate Consultants and Service Providers who are not familiar with E-Rate or Head Start.

To learn more about our services, please contact us by phone 501-227-0217 or 202-391-0380 or toll free at 866-878-6032.