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The E-Rate program, established by the FCC and administered by USAC, provides public and private K–12 schools and libraries with discounts of 20% to 85% on eligible telecommunications, internet access, and internal connections. This funding empowers schools to modernize infrastructure, support hybrid learning, and close the digital divide.
Your public or private K-12 school, nonprofit or charter institution with an endowment below $50 million is eligible for up to 85% in E-rate funding. Use it to upgrade your routers, switches, Wi-Fi, and basic firewalls. You can calculate your Category Two budget at $201.57 per student, with a minimum of $30,175 over five years. We are here to help you design a secure, scalable infrastructure that supports digital learning.
Start Your E-Rate Planning Today
Your tribal school is eligible for minimum funding of $30,175—with the a $201.57 per student multiplier. Unlock up to 90% in E-Rate funding to upgrade your routers, switches, Wi-Fi, and basic firewalls. We are here to help you design a secure, scalable infrastructure that supports culturally responsive digital learning.
Get Expert Help for Tribal E-Rate StrategyFrom small rural districts to large urban campuses, schools nationwide trust Cisco and BlueAlly to create secure, scalable learning networks. With over $4 billion available annually, the time to upgrade is now.
Let BlueAlly and Cisco help you navigate funding, simplify procurement, and deploy the technology that empowers learning anywhere.
View the Application Journey
The E-Rate calendar runs on a strict timeline. The main application window (Form 471) opens in January and closes in March. The sooner you start planning—with trial gear from Cisco if eligible—the more control you’ll have over vendor selection and project scoping.
Maximum Per-Student Budget Multiplier
Minimum Funding Floor (Public and private K-12 schools)
Minimum Funding Floor (Tribal schools)
E-Rate Category Two (C2) covers internal connectivity infrastructure—this is Cisco’s domain. From Meraki cloud-managed access points and switches to secure Cisco firewalls, these solutions are built to scale securely, integrate seamlessly, and manage easily.
With Cisco + BlueAlly, you get:
Products available under Category Two funding include Cisco wireless access points, Catalyst switches, basic firewalls, and cloud-managed solutions for simplified administration and robust security. These technologies are designed to support everything from public internet access and digital literacy programs to secure staff operations and remote learning services.
Next-Gen | Security | Catalyst & | Catalyst & RoutersCisco E-Rate eligible routers deliver secure, scalable connectivity. |
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Meraki and Catalyst wireless access points support high-density environments like auditoriums, classrooms, and libraries. Built with education in mind, they offer seamless device roaming, advanced traffic shaping, role-based access control, plug-and-play deployment with centralized dashboard management, and Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E support. | Cisco’s eligible basic firewalls help schools meet Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requirements with simple-to-deploy, secure perimeter defenses. Products like the Meraki MX series offer built-in content filtering, traffic shaping, and intrusion prevention without requiring advanced configuration—making them ideal for resource-constrained IT teams.
| Catalyst switches are built for the performance demands of modern classrooms. These enterprise-grade switches power everything from classroom tech to wireless access points. Cisco’s EDU SKUs come pre-bundled with up to three years of technical support and hardware replacement, eliminating the need for separate maintenance agreements.
| Cisco routers serve as the reliable backbone for any school’s network. With secure, scalable performance, these routers ensure bandwidth efficiency, application visibility, and critical routing functions—all while meeting E-Rate eligibility. Cisco’s ISR routers offer integrated services and can be configured to support hybrid learning environments across multiple campuses with simplified security and management tools.
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While browsing Cisco’s product selection, please remember to verify that any products you select are eligible for E-Rate funding. Eligible products typically fall under Category One (broadband and Internet access services) and Category Two (internal connections such as switches, routers, and wireless access points). To confirm eligibility, check the E-Rate Product Eligibility Database or consult with your Cisco E-Rate advisor. Properly identifying eligible products ensures you can maximize your E-Rate funding and stay compliant throughout the application process. | |||
Are you ready maximize your E-Rate dollars and transform your network? The time to begin is now. Unlock the discounts that will help you upgrade your school’s technology. With expert guidance from Cisco and BlueAlly, we’ll help you navigate every step of the process—from eligibility checks to product selection. Don’t wait—secure your funding and start building a future-ready network now!
Learn about the USAC E-Rate Program, available funding, discounts, eligibility, and more.
The E-Rate Eligibility Helpdesk offers expert guidance to ensure you’re maximizing your funding and selecting the right solutions.
The E-Rate discount matrix determines the percentage of cost schools and libraries can receive as a discount, ranging from 20% to 85%. The discount level is based on two key factors: the percentage of students eligible for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and whether the institution is in a rural or urban area.
The C2 Budget Tool helps schools and libraries calculate, track, and maximize their E-Rate Category 2 funding across the five-year budget cycle. It simplifies planning and ensures accurate allocations.
This tool will help you verify if the products you are considering are eligible for E-Rate funding. If you need further assistance, feel free to contact us using the form below.
Download E-Rate Forms 470 and 471 directly from the USAC website to begin the application process. These forms are essential for securing funding and ensuring eligibility for your school or library’s technology needs.
