E-Fee Funding Yr 2026 FCC Kind 471 Submitting Window Opens
On December 18, 2025, the Common Service Administrative Firm (USAC) revealed the applying interval for E-Fee funding for the fiscal yr 2026! This can be a very important probability for E-Fee candidates to acquire monetary help for important companies and tools that can improve connectivity for colleges and libraries
January 21, 2026 – The FY2026 FCC Kind 471 software submitting window opens on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at midday ET. This marks the start of the interval throughout which candidates can submit their software to request funding for eligible companies and tools. Candidates should embody info on the recipients of companies and repair supplier(s); present detailed descriptions of companies together with prices and dates of service or tools; and certify compliance with program guidelines.
March 4, 2026 – Wednesday, March 4, 2026, is the ultimate day to submit and certify an FCC Kind 470. This way is essential for initiating the aggressive bidding course of for the companies you want to procure. Guarantee it’s filed by this date to fulfill the required 28-day ready interval earlier than you may submit your FCC Kind 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 Kind 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 mild 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 phases, this preliminary dataset supplies beneficial insights into the methods colleges and libraries are adopting for cybersecurity investments and the way the pilot might affect future coverage choices.
With a substantial finances nonetheless accessible and plenty of purposes below overview, extra rounds of funding commitments are anticipated.
Streamlined Cybersecurity Options for Colleges and Libraries Cisco is devoted to simplifying the acquisition of safe networking applied sciences for colleges and libraries by providing options which can be simple to acquire, 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 security measures tailor-made to completely different college sizes. Cisco is dedicated to addressing the cybersecurity wants of faculties and libraries.
To enrich this program, Cisco is happy to supply Faculty and Libraries Cybersecurity bundles. These bundles present complete options tailor-made to guard your establishment’s digital property.
For extra info, see my earlier weblog Ok-12 Colleges and Libraries: Key Insights on FCC’s $200M Cybersecurity Pilot and Cisco Simplified Options.
FCC Finalizes Eligible Companies Checklist for FY2026
The FCC has printed the finalized Eligible Companies Checklist (ESL) for Funding Yr 2026, formally confirming the
methodology advised earlier this fall. The revised ESL supplies readability on the classification of sure software-based and distant companies below the E-Fee program and affords additional steerage to assist candidates navigate the applying and overview course of with much less confusion.
Software program-based companies transfer below Inside Connections
Some of the notable updates to the FY2026 ESL is the reclassification of software-based and distant companies. Beforehand, these companies had 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 companies
• Bug fixes and safety patches
• Technical help associated to software program
• Distant configuration changes
Candidates ought to now request these companies alongside the Inside Connections tools they help, fairly than as a part of primary upkeep. The FCC goals to resolve ongoing confusion that has traditionally led to aggressive bidding points and funding denials.
At the side of these adjustments, the FCC has additionally refined the BMIC class. In line with the ultimate ESL:
• Configuration adjustments performed in individual are nonetheless eligible below BMIC.
• On-line and phone-based technical help, software program updates, and safety patches have been excluded from BMIC eligibility.
For extra info, please attain out to Janell Tennyson, E-Fee Lead.
