The Universal Service Schools and Libraries Program, commonly known as E-rate, helps ensure that schools and libraries can obtain telecommunications and Internet access at affordable rates. The program, which is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), located in Washington, DC, provides discounts on these services and some hardware. E-rate is a national program funded through FCC fees collected on your phone bills.
Since 2016, the CT State Library has been pleased to administer the Connecticut Libraries Fiber Consortium (CLFC).
With the final dispersal of the $3.6 million in funds for the Fiber to the Library grant program, the Consortium is ending. With this discontinuation, the CT State Library will no longer be conducting the consortium competitive bidding for internet for public libraries.
In an effort to ease the transition, the CT State Library will be providing training to libraries, best practices, resources, and office hours to prepare libraries to navigate this process.
Beginning this fall, each affected libraries must do the following.
The CT State Library E-Rate consultant, Christine Gauvreau, will provide training, office hours, and zoom screen shares for libraries that need assistance with this transition. Feel free to schedule an appointment.
The final word on the correct procedures for filing the Form 470 can be found on the USAC E-Rate Video Instructions page.
The window for application for discounts for the year beginning July 1, 2025 opens in January 2025.
If you have filed a Form 471 for the year starting July 1, 2024, you should have received a FCDL, i.e., a funding commitment decision letter telling you what E-Rate is committing to pay you or your fiber and internet vendors. You may also review an E-Rate Review Inquiry, asking you to respond to questions about your eligibility. If you get such an inquiry, please contact Chris for assistance immediately. You usually have 14 days to respond without penalty.
After July 1 and before the end of October you must file a Form 486, i.e., the "start service" form. This is a short form in which you verify that your vendor has started service for the funding year and should be paid by USAC when they invoice the agency. If you do not file this form, your vendor will not be paid by USAC and your library will be responsible to pay out of your own budget.
For details on applying, choose the "Applying" tab above.
If you have questions, contact Christine Gauvreau at christine.gauvreau@ct.gov.
All of the information provided on these pages is related to E-rate services for public libraries. Schools are also eligible for E-rate funding, but they are not addressed on this site.
Libraries must meet the statutory definition of library or library consortium found in the 1996 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and must be eligible for assistance from a state library administrative agency under that Act.
A library includes:
A library's eligibility for support also depends on its funding as an independent entity. Only libraries whose budgets are completely separate from any schools (including, but not limited to, elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities) are eligible to receive discounted services.
For questions about the E-rate Program, call the Client Service Bureau at (888) 203-8100 on weekdays between 8 AM and 8 PM.
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