There were 9,336 applicants who properly submitted applications in the first Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) filing window this past summer. Those applicants requested an estimated 7.56 million laptop computers, 1.51 million Wi-Fi hotspots and 1.25 million tablet computers. Funds For Learning estimates the total ECF demand in the first filing window totaled $5.01 billion. This is a revised total, slightly lower than the original estimate, that takes into account erroneous funding applications.
Laptop and tablet computers represented a combined 63% of the demand, with another 18% of the funding requests going to mobile broadband services
The second ECF filing window opened on September 27, 2021 and closes October 13, 2021. Schools and libraries are encouraged to apply.
