On October 28, 2014 the FCC approved the final Eligible Services List (ESL) for Funding Year 2015. The FY 2015 ESL reflects the eligibility changes directed by the E-rate Modernization Order, and has been formatted into a more streamlined document than previous years.
The FCC made few major changes from the draft version of the Eligible Services List. Notable adjustments include:
- Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) has been added to the list of Category One services to clarify that the service will continue to be eligible in FY 2015
- Caching has been defined as “a method that stores recently accessed information. Caching stores information locally so that the information is accessible more quickly than if it must be transmitted across a network from a distance.”
- The FCC clarified that antennas “used in an in conjunction with the internal connections needed to enable high-speed broadband connectivity within schools and libraries are eligible.”
You can download a copy of the final FY 2015 ESL here.
The FCC also authorized USAC to open the FY 2015 filing window no earlier than December 29, 2014. In their recent meeting, the USAC Board gave guidance to USAC that the filing window could open no earlier than January 7, 2014.
