FCC Releases E-rate Eligible Services List With Limited Tweaks
The FCC Wireline Bureau released Wednesday the final eligible services list for FY 2026 for the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism program. The bureau declined to make several changes sought by commenters in response to a bureau notice about the list, including those on the treatment of managed internal broadband services (MIBS), a top focus of the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and other groups (see 2511140019).
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“In light of the extensive comments and recommendations on MIBS, we make no changes to MIBS eligibility in funding year 2026 and will seek further comment on this matter in the future,” the bureau said. As commenters recognize, “changes to MIBS require additional time and preparation.”
The bureau sought to provide clarity on how basic maintenance of internal connections (BMIC) and other security upgrades and patches are treated. To “resolve” any confusion, “we will treat all currently eligible software- or remote-based services, including bug fixes, security patches, software-based technical assistance, and configuration changes, the same and will have applicants request all software- and remote-based services with the internal connections equipment that they support.”
There was broad support in the comments for the bureau's push to simplify that process. Applicants will no longer “have to struggle to determine whether software- or remote-based services should be categorized as internal connections or BMIC,” it said.
The bureau declined the Los Angeles Unified School District’s request that advanced or modern firewall services be made eligible as E-rate Category 2 services. “Eligibility rules regarding basic firewall services and components remain unchanged.” It also said it won’t make domain name system services eligible as Category 1 “networking equipment” or support uninterruptible power supply devices and switch ports for security cameras.
Noting that Lumen Technologies had requested clarification on eligibility of services and equipment for one of its offerings, “network-as-a-service,” the bureau said companies should consult the Universal Service Administrative Co. on “questions about services and equipment involved in a particular network configuration” and “the specific facts necessary to make a determination.”
In addition, the bureau authorized USAC to open the annual FCC Form 471 application filing window. In doing so, it waived a requirement that the final eligible services list be released at least 60 days prior. Opening the window now “will allow time for applicants to submit and USAC to timely process applications and issue commitments” for FY 2026, the order said.