Welcome to the E-Rate Helpdesk

E-rate Modernization = Unprecedented Opportunity for Applicants

The E-rate program offers $8 billion in category 2 discounts to K-12 schools and libraries over the 5-year budget cycle. Because of the E-rate Modernization Order and the additional funds, it is now possible for all schools and libraries that qualify for the E-rate program to use some funding for their digital initiatives.

Important Eligibility Information

Eligibility information on this site is subject to the following:

  • This data is applicable to Funding Year 2015 through 2025 only. For eligibility information for Funding Years 2014 and prior, please contact the Helpdesk.
  • The eligibility information on this site is valid for funding requests in the Category 2 funding categories only.
  • The eligibility information on this site is based on technical functionality of the components only. Applicant-specific deployment factors will determine final eligibility, including how a product is used, installation location, user population served, cost-effectiveness, and other E-rate regulatory requirements.
  • E-rate discounts can be provided on installed and operational components only - services for spare parts inventory or redundant/failover components are not eligible for discounts at this time.
  • Remanufactured products have the same eligible percentage as the new part. For part numbers ending in -RF, please refer to the part number of the new product for determining eligibility.

E-rate Hardware and Software Allocation Eligibility for Cisco Services

E-rate support is available for Category 2 Funding under the sub-category of Internal Connections. Effective with E-rate Funding Year 2026, the FCC proposed to treat all currently eligible software- or remote-based services, including bug fixes, security patches, software-based technical assistance, and configuration changes the same. Thus, applicants request all software- and remote-based services with the internal connections equipment that they support. This means, services previously included under Category 2 Funding as Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections (BMIC), will now be treated as Internal Connections (IC) under Category 2 Funding. Essentially, all Cisco service SKUs will now be treated as Internal Connections contracts just like right-to-use licensing software is. This new ruling will allow E-rate applicants to request funding for E-rate eligible or partially eligible service SKUs during the first year of the funding request.

With Cisco products, services generally include any unbundled service/warranty sold in addition to a product or license. A Cisco or Meraki service is normally a combination of TAC support and RMA (return of product or service). RMA is considered an ineligible “unbundled warranty” by the E-rate program. When Cisco sells a hardware Service/Warranty, we extend TAC support and hardware return to the customer. There are several types of services in Cisco. Service SKUs are categorized by type and service level. Within the E-rate space, the most common Cisco service program types are:

Notes:

For E-rate Funding Year 2025, Cisco service SKU Levels will have a standard percentage to cost-allocate the value of RMA functionality. These allocations will be available on the E-rate Helpdesk portal database and will be linked directly to their supported product. In the interim, please use the following guidance to assist your organization with Cisco Service Eligibility.