On November 17, 2014 FCC Chairman Thomas Wheeler circulated a draft plan to be voted on during the December 2014 FCC Open Meeting, which will increase the total E-rate fund by $1.5 billion annually. If approved by a majority of the FCC Commissioners during the December meeting, the E-rate cap will increase from an inflation adjusted $2.4 billion to $3.9 billion.
The FCC Managing Director, Jon Wilkins, released a blog on the FCC website today that the circulated order will “…also propose a series of targeted rule changes designed to ensure that the nation’s students and life-long learners can get the 21st Century educations required to keep the nation globally competitive….” The FCC released a Staff Report that details further data that has been received on the need to increase the funding cap and a Fact Sheet that provides additional information about the Chairman’s plan to continue to reform the E-rate program.
It remains to be seen if these proposed changes would be in effect in time for the 2015 Funding Year.
