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The Telecommunications Act of 1996 established the E-Rate program to provide eligible schools and libraries with discounts on telecommunication and Internet access equipment. New York State’s 2018 funding allocation is over $71 million. The E-Rate program is administered by theÌýSchool & Library Division of theÌý.Ìý

ToÌýprovide technical assistance and facilitate theÌýE-Rate application process, The ¶«¾©ÈÈ (NYSED)Ìýpartners withÌý,Ìýan organization with extensive experience with the E-Rate program.ÌýAs of 2016, adult education facilities providing secondary education are also eligible for E-Rate discounts.ÌýNYSEDÌýstrongly urges all schools and libraries to take full advantage of all the E-Rate discounts onÌýtelecommunication and Internet access equipment.Ìý

Some of the services provided to New York schools and libraries by E-Rate Central are:Ìý

• WeeklyÌýEmailÌýNewsletterÌýfor E-Rate coordinatorsÌýwith current news and information. Sign-upÌýatÌýtheÌýÌýWeb site.Ìý
• ·¡-¸é²¹³Ù±ðÌýÌýforÌýspecific E-rate questions.Ìý
• E-Rate Central offers half-dayÌýE-Rate workshopsÌýthroughout the State. Workshops will be announced on theÌýÌýWeb site.Ìý
• Ìýis a Web-based tool that helps schools and libraries organize and analyze their specific E-rate informationÌýfree of charge, 24 hours a day. Ìý

Ìýinformation can be found on the New York State Library E-Rate for Libraries page.Ìý

The process that NYSED will use to validate the eligibility of entities to receive E-Rate funding is outlined in the E-Rate Validation of Schools memo.

Information on how to use SSBA allocation funds to help leverage federal E-rate reimbursements to support modernization goals is available in the Smart Schools Bond Act and E-Rate Leveraging Possibilities document.

For additional information, please contactÌýby email or (516) 801-7801.Ìý