# FCC Reviews E-Rate School Connectivity Funding

The Federal Communications Commission is considering changes to E-Rate, which provides about $3 billion annually in discounts for school and library internet and telecommunications services. A coalition of 23 attorneys general, including North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, is urging the FCC to preserve the program. North Carolina received more than $54 million in E-Rate funding in 2026. Any changes to funding or eligibility could affect school connectivity budgets and demand for telecommunications and education technology services, particularly in rural communities.

- Procurement teams and contractors serving schools should assess how dependent current or planned connectivity projects are on E-Rate discounts, especially in rural North Carolina.
- Education technology and telecommunications providers should evaluate how potential funding or eligibility changes could affect district purchasing capacity and project demand.
- The FCC proceeding is the concrete point to follow as the commission considers changes; the signals do not identify a specific solicitation, contract award, or deadline.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Education, Information Technology
**Topics:** Grants & Funding, Digital Infrastructure
**Published:** October 20, 2026

### Government Entities
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- North Carolina Department of Justice (NCDOJ)
- North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)

### Key Quotes
> E-Rate keeps North Carolina’s classrooms connected, from rural communities to our biggest cities. Our schools count on it for instruction, safety and day-to-day operations. Protecting this funding means protecting students’ access to learning.
> — Maurice “Mo” Green, Superintendent of Public Instruction

> North Carolina relies on this federal aid to keep our schools running, especially our rural schools. Getting rid of this money would harm our kids and break the law. That’s why we’re telling the federal government to keep it in place.
> — Jeff Jackson, Attorney General of North Carolina

### Sources
- [Attorney General Jeff Jackson Fights to Protect Funding for Internet Access in Rural Schools - NCDOJ](https://ncdoj.gov/attorney-general-jeff-jackson-fights-to-protect-funding-for-internet-access-in-rural-schools/) - Ncdoj