On June 29, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission circulated a draft Report and Order making changes to E-rate rules for Tribal libraries participating in the E-rate program. If adopted, the Report and Order would seek to encourage Tribal library participation by:
- Designating Tribal college and university libraries as eligible entities
- Increasing the maximum Category Two discount available to Tribal libraries to 90%
- Increasing the Category Two funding floor for Tribal libraries from $25,000 to $55,000
The draft Order also seeks to improve communication between Tribal Nations and the FCC by:
- Adopting an official definition for “Tribal” in E-rate rules
- Adding a director to the USAC Board of Directors representing Tribal communities
- Directing USAC to “provide additional training and outreach” to Tribal libraries during the E-rate application process
The draft Report and Order also makes changes to a number of E-rate rules for all E-rate applicants. More information about those changes is available here.
The draft Report and Order may be viewed here.