The application filing period for the pilot program will run from Sept. 17 through Nov. 1, the FCC said. Paid for with Universal Service Fund monies, derived from telecommunication fees, the pilot is intended to help schools and libraries pay for cybersecurity work in four categories: advanced firewalls; endpoint protection; identity protection and authentication; and monitoring, detection and response. Those chosen to take part must pay a portion of the cost.
Prospective participants will be required to complete FCC Form 484 Part 1 in order to apply. They will have access to this form in the E-Rate Productivity Center once the filing period begins, according to the FCC’s public notice.
The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), which will manage the pilot with FCC oversight, will host a webinar Tuesday to go over the application form and answer frequently asked questions. A second USAC webinar is scheduled for Sept. 17, to walk users through the new application system.
The FCC has already issued some guidance on how schools and libraries can prepare for the application process, including several administrative prerequisites.
The FCC approved the pilot in June to help pay for cybersecurity at a diverse group of K-12 schools and libraries most in need. With this in mind, it said in the public notice, funding will go to a combination of large and small, and urban and rural schools and libraries, with emphasis on proposed pilots from low-income and tribal applicants.
Data from the pilot will be used to determine the cybersecurity needs of schools and libraries nationwide. Based on that data, the FCC may ultimately expand its existing E-rate program to include cybersecurity equipment and services.
