Cyber Pilot Demand and Next Steps

November 12, 2024

The FCC’s one-time, competitive Cybersecurity Pilot Program (CPP) grant application window closed on November 1, 2024.  Nationwide, a total of 2,734 applications were received, seeking $3.7 billion in funding requests. 

The Cybersecurity Pilot Program will provide up to $200 million in funding to eligible schools and libraries selected to participate in order to defray the costs of eligible cybersecurity services and equipment, while providing the FCC with data to better understand whether and how universal service funds can be used to improve school and library defenses against increasing cyberattacks.

Unlike E-rate and ECF, data related to the Cyber Pilot applications is not being made public due to the highly sensitive nature of the information.  In order to gather data related to PA applicants, we have asked PA schools and libraries that applied to complete a short survey.  As of today, 64 applicants have completed the survey, indicating they requested more than $10 million, with 22 of PA applicants having 90% discounts.  Here is a breakdown of PA applicant types (so far):

  • 2 Library Consortia
  • 4 Libraries
  • 37 School Districts
  • 3 Career & Technical Schools
  • 5 Public School Consortia
  • 1 Nonpublic School Consortia
  • 7 Charter Schools
  • 5 Nonpublic Schools

If you applied for CPP and have not yet completed the brief survey, please do so now at https://forms.gle/NER1D9W4TjZMHNG19.  Thank you!

Next Steps:

The FCC will be reviewing applications over the next several weeks and will then issue a Public Notice, announcing the selected applicants.  They have indicated they intend to target funding to as many qualified applicants as possible with a special focus on the neediest eligible schools, libraries, and consortia who will benefit most from cybersecurity funding (i.e., those at the highest discount rate percentages); Tribal entities; and selecting a mix of large and small and urban and rural, schools, libraries, and consortia.

Selected applicants will then begin the CPP Form 470 competitive bidding process and complete the Form 484 Part 2. 

As soon as the FCC’s Public Notice is issued, I’ll let you know which applicants have been selected. 

— Julie

Julie Tritt Schell
Pennsylvania E-rate Coordinator
717-730-7133 – o
jtschell@comcast.net
www.e-ratepa.org    

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