On November 23, 2021, the FCC announced tentative agenda items for the upcoming December Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 14, 2021. One of the agenda items that impacts the E-rate program includes a discussion on promoting fair and open competitive bidding in the E-rate program.
In their news release, the Commission noted that it will consider a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes to implement a central bidding portal through which service providers would be required to submit their bids to the E-rate Program Administrator and seeks comment on other changes to the E-rate competitive bidding rules. (WC Docket 21-455)
The FCC’s news release can be viewed here.