WCB Releases Analysis on Voice Services
As
required by the E-rate Modernization Orders, WCB released its analysis on voice
services.
Of note:
- Total E-rate funding commitments have increased, but the amount of E-rate funding supporting voice services for all applicants has dropped and fewer applicants have received support for voice services since the phase-down began. Seventy-one percent of the applicants who in funding year 2014 received only voice services now seek E-rate support for other services. Of the total applicants in funding year 2014, only twelve percent no longer apply for E-rate support.
- More applicants are using VoIP services now than before the phase-down began. From funding year 2014 to funding year 2016, the number of applicants seeking support for VoIP services increased 82 percent, while the number of applicants seeking support for POTS decreased 17 percent.
- Commitments for voice services decreased from a total of $708 million in funding year 2014, the final year before the phase-down, to $275 million in funding year 2016 while the percentage of E-rate funding commitments for voice services declined from 31 percent in funding year 2014 to 9 percent in funding year 2016.
- For applicants that received voice services as a substantial proportion of their E-rate support in funding year 2014 (more than 25% of total E-rate funding), applicants with high discount rates received six percent less. Total E-rate support in funding year 2016 than in funding year 2014, while applicants with moderate discount rates experienced a 46 percent increase in overall E-rate support, and applicants with low discount rates experienced a 33 percent increase over the same period.
