E-Rate is the federal program that helps schools and libraries afford internet services. The program helps offset the cost of broadband, Wi-Fi, and the wiring that keeps classrooms, libraries, and learning spaces connected. E-Rate funding is not an extra benefit for our district. It is a critical source of support for the technology infrastructure our schools rely on every day.
E-Rate helps fund our core internet and WAN connectivity—the backbone supporting instruction, state testing, 1:1 devices, communication, and administrative operations across every GMCS site. It also helps fund the internal network infrastructure that keeps our schools connected, including Wi-Fi access points, switches, routers, and managed broadband services.
This funding is built into our long-term planning and has helped us schedule necessary technology and hardware refreshes across the district. Without this support, maintaining our current level of connectivity would cost the district significantly more.
The FFC has opened the program for review, leaving it vulnerable to cuts, restrictions, and reduced support for our communities.
The Reality Without This Funding
• GMCS could be forced to absorb significantly higher connectivity and network costs, creating difficult choices between maintaining technology infrastructure and funding other critical district priorities.
• Wi-Fi and network hardware refreshes could be postponed or canceled. In older buildings, aging infrastructure increases the risk of outages, unreliable connections, and slower service.
• Programs and services that depend on reliable, high-capacity connectivity—including 1:1 devices, online testing, and digital curriculum—could face limitations or cuts if the additional costs cannot be absorbed elsewhere.
E-Rate helps keep our schools connected, our technology functioning, and our students able to learn in a digital environment. If the funding disappears, the need remains. GMCS will have to find a way to pay for it, taking away from other essential needs across our schools and classrooms.
The Next Step
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Please submit your comment by October 13, 2026.