Education Groups Opposed to E-Rate Bidding Portal

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2026 – Federal regulators are set to vote later this month on a change intended to simplify a $2.5 billion-per-year telecom subsidy for schools and libraries. Groups representing the fund’s recipients are worried it will make things more complicated.

Members of the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and other groups met twice with Federal Communications Commission staff this week to say so, according to a filing posted Thursday.

SHLB said the new E-Rate bidding portal contemplated in the public draft of the order “would create excessive burdens on applicants, service providers, and USAC personnel (which could deter program participation).” USAC, the Universal Service Administrative Company, is the nonprofit that administers E-Rate and the FCC’s other universal service subsidies.

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