SHLB Commends FCC’s Letter to USAC Regarding E-rate Drop-Down Menu Concerns

The Federal Communications Commission sent a letter that instructed the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) not to deny E-rate applications over confusion caused by the drop-down menu issue. The letter also directs USAC to clarify the language for Funding Year 2019. John Windhausen, Jr., Executive Director of SHLB, said:

"The SHLB Coalition very much appreciates the FCC's letter to USAC about the E-rate program.  This letter averts a potential disaster in which thousands of E-rate fiber applications could have been denied over a technicality.  While this letter is a good step forward, the E-rate fiber program continues to be a work in progress. There are still many E-rate fiber applications that are being held up due to uncertainty about the cost-effectiveness standard.  We recognize the hard work being done by USAC and the FCC to address these issues going forward, and we look forward to working with them to bring high-capacity broadband to the nation's schools and libraries, especially in rural markets."