15th annual · published September 2025 · digital edition
E-Rate Trends Report
A decade of applicant feedback, funding-request analysis for FY2025, and nearly 400 voices from the schools and libraries that live inside the program.
Key takeaways
The story is consistent and compelling
E-rate is essential to the mission, it keeps prices in check, and it should continue adapting to the way networks are built and secured today. At the same time, applicants are clear about where processes can be simpler without sacrificing program integrity.
Stability of the core mission
From 2016 through 2025, substantial majorities—often above 90%—credit the program with affordability, cost-effectiveness, and faster connections.
Gradual gains in process ease
Satisfaction with administrative ease has risen steadily to 81.4%, yet ease of use still lags the FCC's other goals.
Growing infrastructure demand
Both Category One and Category Two demand trend upward—bandwidth growth, Wi-Fi refreshes, and modernized networks across systems.
“Basic connectivity” now includes security
By 2025, stakeholders widely agree that security, management, and redundancy are essential building blocks of effective connectivity.
The homework gap persists
Year after year, respondents identify off-campus access as a barrier for underserved and rural communities.
A decade of data
Ten years against the FCC's three goals
Since the 2015 Modernization, the survey has kept a consistent question set—so the decade reads as one continuous series. Affordability and cost-effectiveness climbed steadily; process ease improved from a low base and remains the open problem.
“The E-Rate program is achieving this goal” — % agree, 2016–2025
Affordable access · cost-effectiveness · fast & simple process
Source: FFL annual applicant surveys · decade series digitized from the print edition for this prototype; production uses exact values
The 2025 request data
What applicants asked for in FY2025
Drawn from initial Funding Year 2025 applications as filed, before modifications or reductions during review.
Sites supported with E-rate funds
Number of sites listed on applications, by service category
Source: E-rate Manager® data
“C1” Internet access and WAN services
Total requested, discount vs. applicant share ($ billions)
Source: E-rate Manager® data
“C2” LAN infrastructure and service
Total requested, discount vs. applicant share ($ billions) — note the five-year budget cycle
Source: E-rate Manager® data
FY2025 funded services & products
Allocation of FY2025 funded services and products
Source: E-rate Manager® data
The 2025 survey
What applicants told us
Conducted May 2025 — the survey exists because funding-request data paints an incomplete picture, and there is no basic mechanism for applicants to tell the FCC what is working.
E-rate support
E-rate funding is vital to our connectivity goals
Our organization can depend on E-rate every year
We have faster connections because of E-rate
We connect more students and patrons because of E-rate
The FCC's goals
Goal 1: affordable access to high-speed broadband
Goal 2: cost-effective E-rate spending
Goal 3: fast, simple, efficient processes
The homework gap & administration
Insufficient home internet is a significant issue in our community
Would share internet off-campus if the FCC permitted it
Satisfied with USAC overall
Rate the EPC portal easy to use
Source: 2025 FFL applicant survey · respondents in all 50 states
Emerging needs
Where the program goes next
Rising bandwidth and Wi-Fi demands, predictable upgrade cycles, and overwhelming support for security as an eligible service.
Expected change in bandwidth needs over the next 3 years
Share of respondents by expected percentage increase
Source: 2025 FFL applicant survey
Wi-Fi is extremely or very important to our mission
Will need a Wi-Fi upgrade within 1–3 years
Intend to apply for Category Two discounts in FY2026
Open-ended responses
Nearly 400 voices, in their own words
Comments are presented as submitted and edited only to ensure anonymity. This is the section the print edition could only skim — online, it becomes searchable.
“E-Rate program is vital to our schools. Without them, there would be NO INTERNET!!! Please continue to fund them. It's necessary for connectivity for our students' education.”
“My county could not survive without the help of E-Rate.”
“Our district is small and rural. We rely 100% on E-Rate funding for connectivity — it is absolutely essential for our operations.”
“Without E-Rate, we are dead in the water — our students will suffer along with staff. Connectivity is as important as having electricity in this day and age.”
“Without E-Rate our students would once again be divided between those that have (can afford) and those that have not (cannot afford). E-Rate and Connectivity is as important today as clean drinking water and electricity.”
“This program has provided assistance for us since year 1. Our network is robust and we have the bandwidth to support all 7,500 students thanks to the support of the E-Rate program.”
“I have been filing for E-Rate funds for 27 years. Without these funds, our network would not be where it is today.”
“I would like to see cybersecurity added to E-Rate. Without a secure network the internet is a loaded gun.”
“Cyber Security threatens the existence of Networks which are essentially funded by E-Rate.”
“Providing access without the means to protect is inviting schools to be the targets of threat actors.”
“Due to the increase in the amount of cybersecurity requirements, E-Rate should broaden what they cover to allow us to meet all of our requirements.”
“Ignoring the need for improved network security basically sets schools up to be targets.”
“Students need to be able to reach high-speed Internet at school and home.”
“There is no way we could afford the internet we need in our rural areas without E-Rate funding. E-Rate makes a huge difference for our public library system. We NEED it.”
“E-Rate enables us to provide internet services to the underserved in our communities; we are a county-wide library system. We serve both urban and rural communities.”
“I have been advocating for hot spots for students and buses for over 10 years. This needs to be a service under E-Rate!! Make it happen!”
“The PIA review process takes too long. I get asked the same questions about the same sites every year by different reviewers. There is too much redundancy.”
“Since very little (if any) of our information changes from year to year, it would be great if the answers pre-populated and I just had the option to Accept or Edit them.”
“Any system where missing a check box can result in a denial of $100,000+ funding is flawed.”
“Much too difficult for small rural libraries to apply for, too complicated. Should be much simpler process and not take multiple forms all year long.”
“I would love to see an easier-to-use EPC portal. In addition, it would be nice if the State E-Rate Coordinator could see everything from their districts.”
“While EPC is an improvement, I still always feel like I am missing a deadline or a document because there is no “dashboard” where I can see things like dates and documents.”
“Our E-Rate Coordinator is the best. Give that man a raise.”
“I LOVE the USAC customer service folks.”
“Thankful for the videos. I've been doing this for nearly 20 years and it is finally easier to navigate and understand.”
No matches in the curated set — the production edition searches all responses.
Method & demographics
Who answered
Responses from public and private applicants in all 50 states, urban and rural, closely matching the overall population of E-rate applicants—the most accurate picture available of applicant needs as of spring 2025.
Public applicants (11% private)
Urban respondents (35% rural)
Districts (23% library, 13% school, 4% consortium)
This report is not an encyclopedic review of the program, and while we strive to be fair and impartial, it is not a scientific analysis conducted by an independent third party. We hope it catalyzes discussion, generates new ideas, and leads to further improvements in this vital program.
Professional standard of conduct
Independent by design
No formal regulation governs E-rate consultants. FFL voluntarily complies with a published Code of Conduct and the E-mpa® Code of Ethics — in 2004 we became the first E-rate consultancy to publish a code of conduct and submit to public accountability.
- FFL does not sell or offer any E-rate eligible services.
- FFL does not have a SPIN (Service Provider Identification Number).
- FFL does not prepare technology plans.
- FFL does not advise clients on what technology to procure or from whom to purchase it, and does not receive payment from service providers based on their sales to applicants.