E-Fee Funding Yr 2026 FCC Type 471 Submitting Window Opens
On December 18, 2025, the Common Service Administrative Firm (USAC) revealed the appliance interval for E-Fee funding for the fiscal yr 2026! This can be a important probability for E-Fee candidates to acquire monetary assist for important providers and gear that may improve connectivity for colleges and libraries
January 21, 2026 – The FY2026 FCC Type 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 embody data 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 Type 470. This way is essential for initiating the aggressive bidding course of for the providers you want to procure. Guarantee it’s filed by this date to satisfy the required 28-day ready interval earlier than you may submit your FCC Type 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 Type 471, so be sure 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 continues to be in its early levels, this preliminary dataset offers useful insights into the methods colleges and libraries are adopting for cybersecurity investments and the way the pilot might affect future coverage selections.
With a substantial finances nonetheless obtainable and lots of purposes underneath evaluate, extra rounds of funding commitments are anticipated.
Streamlined Cybersecurity Options for Faculties and Libraries Cisco is devoted to simplifying the acquisition of safe networking applied sciences for colleges and libraries by providing options which might be simple to obtain, implement, and use. These options will harness the Cybersecurity Pilot funding to empower academic establishments to foster inclusive studying for everybody.
Choices will embody optimum networking and superior safety features tailor-made to completely different faculty sizes. Cisco is dedicated to addressing the cybersecurity wants of faculties and libraries.
To enrich 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 data, see my earlier weblog Ok-12 Faculties and Libraries: Key Insights on FCC’s $200M Cybersecurity Pilot and Cisco Simplified Options.
FCC Finalizes Eligible Providers Listing for FY2026
The FCC has revealed the finalized Eligible Providers Listing (ESL) for Funding Yr 2026, formally confirming the
methodology instructed earlier this fall. The revised ESL offers readability on the classification of sure software-based and distant providers underneath the E-Fee program and gives additional steering to assist candidates navigate the appliance and evaluate course of with much less confusion.
Software program-based providers transfer underneath Inside Connections
One of the notable updates to the FY2026 ESL is the reclassification of software-based and distant providers. Beforehand, these providers have been divided between Inside Connections and Primary Upkeep of Inside Connections (BMIC), which frequently 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 assist, somewhat than as a part of fundamental upkeep. The FCC goals to resolve ongoing confusion that has traditionally led to aggressive bidding points and funding denials.
At the side of these modifications, the FCC has additionally refined the BMIC class. In line with the ultimate ESL:
• Configuration modifications carried out in particular person are nonetheless eligible underneath BMIC.
• On-line and phone-based technical assist, software program updates, and safety patches have been excluded from BMIC eligibility.
For extra data, please attain out to Janell Tennyson, E-Fee Lead.
