FCC Seeks Comment on FY 2017 ESL
The FCC is seeking comment on the proposed eligible services list (ESL) for the E-rate program for funding year 2017. Anyone may file comments on or before July 5, 2016 and reply comments on or before July 20, 2016. See the Public Notice for further details on filing requirements.
The changes are minor, except for the classification of services when a school or library has multiple buildings on separate campuses (see no. 4 below).
The Proposed Changes
- In order to explain the distinction between leased dark fiber and self-provisioned fiber, the proposed ESL revises the description of eligible dark fiber service under Category One to read “Leased Dark Fiber (including dark fiber indefeasible rights of use (IRUs) for a set term).”
- In order to better reflect the existing requirement that applicants that seek bids for leased dark fiber or self-provisioned fiber must also seek and fully consider bids for leased lit fiber service, the proposed ESL deletes the phrase “special construction” from Note 2 under eligible Category One data transmission and Internet access services. Currently, it appears as if the requirement to seek bids for lit fiber only applies when seeking bids for special construction for dark or self-provisioned fiber.
- To reflect that each of the three eligibility explanations include a discussion of both Category One and Category Two services, the proposed ESL moves the section previously titled “Eligibility Explanations for Certain Category One Services” so that it appears after the description of Category Two supported services, and revises the section header to include Category Two services.
- The proposed ESL includes a new explanation of how to classify connections between multiple buildings of a single school in the section titled “Eligibility Explanations for Certain Category One and Category Two Services.”
The proposed change would distinguish between: 1) connections among multiple buildings of a school that are located on a single campus would be treated as Category Two connections; and 2) connections between multiple buildings of a single school that are located on separate campuses would be treated as Category One connections. Wide Area Network (WAN) connections are considered a Category One service.
Comment is specifically sought on: 1) the proposed addition of the term “campus” to ESL; 2) whether the ESL should provide clarity regarding library branch buildings and, if so, suggestions of specific language for the ESL that would be helpful for the library community.
The Commission is also seeking comment on modifications that would make the ESL a more helpful to tool for applicants seeking funds for high-speed broadband networks.
