In a teleconference with FCC staff on October 8th, Funds For Learning CEO John Harrington called for an E‚Äërate fund increase of at least $1.56 billion. As detailed in this Ex Parte Communication, the E-rate fund amount must be augmented in order to accommodate the increasing costs for broadband services and the evident historical demand for Priority Two funding (now Category Two).
The Category Two funding demand estimates mentioned in the Ex Parte Communication are detailed in this analysis of prior year requests.
A number of commenters have called for the FCC to increase the E-rate funding cap duringthe latest public comment periods, including a recent submission from a coalition of E-rate stakeholders.
