FCC Announces 3rd ECF Application Window
March 23, 2022
~ April 28 – May 13 ~
~ Webinar Scheduled to Answer Questions: Register Now ~
Today the FCC announced the opening of a 3rd application window for the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) — which pays for Internet access and laptops/tablets for students, teachers/paraprofessionals and library patrons with an unmet need – to cover eligible purchases/services that occur between July 1, 2022 – December 31, 2023*. The filing window will only be open for 2 weeks, from April 28 – May 13, 2022.
The FCC estimates approximately $1 billion will be available for ECF Window 3, and if demand is greater than available funds, the applicants with the highest E-rate discounts will receive priority, with rural applicants receiving priority within each discount level.
* Although the eligible time period is 18 months, Internet services may only be delivered for 12 of those months. Further schools/libraries may not seek funding for duplicate months that overlap what was awarded in ECF Windows 1 & 2 and will be expected to explain on their Window 3 application how their new requests don’t overlap with prior commitments.
ECF Window 3 Webinar: I have scheduled a 1-hour webinar on Thursday, April 7 at 1:00 p.m. to provide an overview of ECF and explain the nuances of Window 3. I kindly ask that you hold your ECF-related questions until the webinar, or include them in the questions section of the webinar registration.
Register at: https://cciu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIsc-qgrTkjG9Bh6xoTVhDtxL-mCQg5h423.
Thursday, April 7 @ 1 – 2:00 p.m.
If you are interested in applying for ECF in Window 3, I look forward to seeing you on April 7.
– Julie
Julie Tritt Schell
PA E-rate Coordinator
www.e-rate.pa.org
jtschell@comcast.net