E-rate Tribal Library Order Adopted

The E-rate Tribal Library Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was adopted by the Commission on July 20, 2023 during its open meeting.

The Order makes tribal college and university libraries eligible for E-rate and enhances communications between the Commission and Tribal Nations. It also streamlines and simplifies the E-rate application process for libraries making low-cost purchases, modifies Category Two rules to support tribal libraries, and provides guidance on cost-allocation rules and procedures.

The adopted Order also contained a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Further NPRM), which seeks comment on updating eligible services, changing or clarifying the E-rate competitive bidding requirements, stream-lining the E-rate program forms, and updating E-rate program definitions. Once the Further NPRM is published in the Federal Register – expected sometime in August – the Commission will set the comment cycle.