The FCC has introduced a Cybersecurity Pilot Program to make $200 million available over the next 3 years for eligible K-12 schools and libraries to purchase a wide variety of cybersecurity services and equipment.
The application for the Cybersecurity Pilot Program will open in the fall of 2024 and will include the following 4 categories of service. (You can also find more information on the FCC page about Cybersecurity Pilot Program Eligible Services):
- Advanced and Next-Generation Firewalls
- Equipment and services that implement advanced/next-generation firewalls, including software-defined firewalls and Firewall as a Service, are eligible. Specifically, equipment, services, or a combination of equipment and services that limit access between networks, excluding basic firewalls that are funded through the Commission’s E-Rate program, are eligible.
- Endpoint Protection
- Equipment and services that implement endpoint protection are eligible. Specifically, equipment, services, or a combination of equipment and services that implements safeguards to protect school- and library-owned end-user devices, including desktops, laptops, and mobile devices, against cyber threats and attacks are eligible.
- Identity Protection and Authentication
- Equipment and services that implement identity protection and authentication are eligible. Specifically, equipment, services, or a combination of equipment and services that implements safeguards to protect a user’s network identity from theft or misuse and/or provide assurance about the network identity of an entity interacting with a system are eligible.
- Monitoring, Detection, and Response
- Equipment and services that implement monitoring, detection and response are eligible. Specifically, equipment, services, or a combination of equipment and services that monitor and/or detect threats to a network and that take responsive action to remediate or otherwise address those threats is eligible.
Unlike E-Rate, this is a pilot program and applicants must apply to be accepted into the program to participate. If accepted into the program, schools, school districts, libraries, and library systems may receive the following funding:
- Schools and School Districts
- Schools/Districts with 1,100 students or less – $45,000 pre-discount
- $40.80 pre-discount per student for schools/districts with between 1,101 and 110,294 students
- $4.5 million pre-discount for Schools/districts with more than 110,294 students
- Libraries and Library Systems
- $45,000 pre-discount for individual library/sites, not part of a library system
- $45,000 pre-discount per library/site, for library systems with fewer than 12 libraries/sites
- $525,000 pre-discount for library systems with 12 or more libraries/sites
To apply for the Pilot Program, applicants must complete an FCC Form 484 (Part 1). Part 1 of the FCC form 484 collects a general level of information which you can view here. The FCC and USAC will evaluate applicants based on their responses to the FCC Form 484 and will seek a diverse set of participants. Support will be awarded to a combination of large and small, urban and rural schools, libraries and consortia, with an emphasis on low-income and Tribal applicants.
Once the FCC selects Pilot Program participants, they will issue a public notice of selected participants. At that time, selected participants will be invited to complete Part 2 of the FCC Form 484. Part 2 will provide more detailed information about the applicant’s cybersecurity experiences and pilot project. Only participants that are selected to participate in Part 2 of the FCC Form 484 will be able to continue in the process to apply for funding for the Cybersecurity Pilot Program.
If selected, you can expect the following:
- Similar forms to E-Rate, ECF, Connected Care Pilot Program
- Competitive bidding process like E-Rate, where price must be the primary factor.
- Submitting requests for services and equipment, like E-Rate
- Receiving an FCDL
- Submitting request for reimbursement, either by the applicant or the service provider.
To learn more, read the current list of USAC FAQs about the Cybersecurity Pilot Program and the FCC’s list of Cybersecurity Pilot Program FAQs.
If you want to apply for this Cybersecurity Pilot Program or if you have any questions please feel free to contact us or email us at info@erateadvantage.com.
