Emergency Connectivity Fund Guidance for End of Emergency Period

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau and Office of the Managing Director (OMD) offer guidance to participants in the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Program on the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023 and announce June 30, 2024 as the sunset date for the ECF Program. As part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Act), Congress appropriated $7.171 billion and directed the FCC to promulgate rules to distribute funding from the ECF to eligible schools and libraries for the purchase during the COVID-19 emergency period of eligible equipment and/or advanced telecommunications and information services for use by students, school staff, and library patrons at locations that include locations other than a school or library. On May 10, 2021, the FCC adopted the Emergency Connectivity Fund Report and Order establishing the rules for the ECF Program to distribute the funding to eligible schools and libraries. As of May 11, 2023, $3.173 billion has been disbursed to ECF participants. For all funding requests with outstanding commitments or pending decisions, the expiration of the COVID-19 emergency period requires that all purchases of eligible equipment and services must be made by June 30, 2024, in order for the purchase to be eligible for reimbursement through the ECF Program.