E-Price Funding 12 months 2026 FCC Type 471 Submitting Window Opens
On December 18, 2025, the Common Service Administrative Firm (USAC) revealed the applying interval for E-Price funding for the fiscal yr 2026! This can be a important likelihood for E-Price candidates to acquire monetary help for important companies and gear that may improve connectivity for colleges and libraries
January 21, 2026 – The FY2026 FCC Type 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 gear. Candidates should embrace data on the recipients of companies and repair supplier(s); present detailed descriptions of companies together with prices and dates of service or gear; and certify compliance with program guidelines.
March 4, 2026 – Wednesday, March 4, 2026, is the ultimate day to submit and certify an FCC Type 470. This kind is essential for initiating the aggressive bidding course of for the companies you want to procure. Guarantee it’s filed by this date to satisfy the required 28-day ready interval earlier than you may submit your FCC Type 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 Type 471, so make certain 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 gentle 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 offers invaluable insights into the methods colleges and libraries are adopting for cybersecurity investments and the way the pilot could affect future coverage selections.
With a substantial price range nonetheless out there and lots of purposes underneath overview, extra rounds of funding commitments are anticipated.
Streamlined Cybersecurity Options for Faculties and Libraries Cisco is devoted to simplifying the acquisition of safe networking applied sciences for colleges and libraries by providing options which might be easy to obtain, implement, and use. These options will harness the Cybersecurity Pilot funding to empower academic establishments to foster inclusive studying for everybody.
Choices will embrace optimum networking and superior safety features tailor-made to totally different faculty sizes. Cisco is dedicated to addressing the cybersecurity wants of faculties and libraries.
To enhance this program, Cisco is worked up to supply College and Libraries Cybersecurity bundles. These bundles present complete options tailor-made to guard your establishment’s digital property.
For added data, see my earlier weblog Okay-12 Faculties and Libraries: Key Insights on FCC’s $200M Cybersecurity Pilot and Cisco Simplified Options.
FCC Finalizes Eligible Providers Record for FY2026
The FCC has revealed the finalized Eligible Providers Record (ESL) for Funding 12 months 2026, formally confirming the
methodology advised earlier this fall. The revised ESL offers readability on the classification of sure software-based and distant companies underneath the E-Price program and presents additional steerage to assist candidates navigate the applying and overview course of with much less confusion.
Software program-based companies transfer underneath Inner Connections
Probably the most notable updates to the FY2026 ESL is the reclassification of software-based and distant companies. Beforehand, these companies had been divided between Inner Connections and Fundamental Upkeep of Inner Connections (BMIC), which frequently led to inconsistent dealing with and errors in purposes.
For FY2026, the FCC has redefined the Inner 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 Inner Connections gear they help, slightly 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.
Along side these modifications, the FCC has additionally refined the BMIC class. Based on the ultimate ESL:
• Configuration modifications carried out in individual are nonetheless eligible underneath BMIC.
• On-line and phone-based technical help, software program updates, and safety patches have been excluded from BMIC eligibility.
For extra data, please attain out to Janell Tennyson, E-Price Lead.