Emergency Connectivity Fund Program

The Emergency Connectivity Fund Program is a $7.17 billion program funded by the American Rescue Plan Act to help schools and libraries support remote learning. The program will provide funding to schools and libraries for the reasonable costs of eligible equipment and services that can be provided to students, teachers, and library patrons who lack connected devices such as laptop or tablet computers and/or lack broadband access during the pandemic. The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) is the program administrator.

Reasonable support amounts, via reimbursement to applicants, are a maximum of $400 for each laptop or tablet and a maximum of $250 for Wi-Fi hotpots. Schools and libraries may buy more expensive laptops, tablets, or Wi-Fi-hotspots, but they can only be reimbursed up to $400/$250. For other eligible equipment and services, the Federal Communications Commission and USAC will review costs to ensure they are reasonable.

USAC will open an application filing window for the planned purchase of equipment and services, between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, that are needed for students, school staff, and library patrons that would otherwise lack access to connected devices/and other broadband connections sufficient to engage in remote learning during the upcoming 2021-2022 school year.

USAC is working to set up the first application filing window. While there is no specific date for when the first application filing window will open, schools and libraries will receive advance notice of the opening date so that they will be ready to file their applications. The first application filing window will be open for 45 days.

For additional information please visit the FCC’s Emergency Connectivity Fund Program site .