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John Harrington, CEMP

by John Harrington

February 25, 2026

Security Has Moved to the Core of Connectivity

For many applicants, the most significant shift in recent years is not bandwidth. It is security. Connectivity used to mean circuits and access points. Increasingly, it also means monitoring, filtering,...

John Harrington, CEMP

by John Harrington

February 25, 2026

Stop Solving the Wrong Problem

One of the most common leadership traps I see is this: treating recurring issues as isolated incidents. Something goes wrong. We jump in. We correct it. We patch it. We...

by Funds For Learning

February 25, 2026

USAC Announces Interim SPIN Option for FY2026 Form 471

In a recent news brief, the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) announced that, beginning March 18, 2026, an interim Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN) will be available to applicants submitting...

John Harrington, CEMP

by John Harrington

February 19, 2026

Category Two in 2026: Wi-Fi Refresh Is No Longer Optional

If Category One is about access, Category Two is about experience. As the 2026 filing window unfolds, one trend is increasingly clear: Wi-Fi refresh cycles are tightening. Not because districts...

John Harrington, CEMP

by John Harrington

February 19, 2026

Agreement Is Not Commitment

One of the most misleading signals in leadership is a room full of nodding heads. I’ve sat in plenty of meetings where everyone “agreed.” No objections. No pushback. No visible...

February 19, 2026

FCC Approves E-rate Relief Following Invoicing Mistakes

On February 17, 2026, The Federal Communications Commission granted relief to several school districts and service providers whose E-rate reimbursement requests were denied after they relied on incorrect invoice deadlines...

John Harrington, CEMP

by John Harrington

February 11, 2026

Category One in 2026: What Patterns Reveal About Bandwidth Planning

As the 2026 filing window progresses, many applicants are making Category One decisions in an environment that feels familiar on the surface, but subtly different underneath. Internet access remains foundational....

John Harrington, CEMP

by John Harrington

February 11, 2026

Leaders Set the Pace — Whether They Mean To or Not

Over the past few weeks, I’ve written about a few related leadership ideas. I shared how experience teaches you not to chase every issue, but to position yourself well and...