---
title: Draft E-rate Order Will Be Circulated at December Commission Meeting
date: 2014-11-18T13:52:03-05:00
author: Import Bot
canonical_url: "https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/blogs/commlaw-monitor/draft-e-rate-order-will-be-circulated-at-december-commission-meeting"
section: Blog Posts
---
# Draft E-rate Order Will Be Circulated at December Commission Meeting

 November 18, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

After adopting the E-rate Modernization Order in July, Chairman Wheeler [announced ](http://www.fcc.gov/blog/taking-next-step-e-rate-modernization)that the Commission is poised to take the next step in updating the E-rate program for schools and libraries. At the Commission’s next meeting in December, Chairman Wheeler will circulate a draft order to his fellow Commissioners for their consideration.

July’s E-rate Modernization Order aimed to close the Wi-Fi gap by creating a $1 billion annual target for promoting broadband development and encouraging digital learning in the nation’s schools and libraries. The [Modernization Order](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.kelleydrye.com/content/uploads/blogs/comm-law-monitor/2014/11/Erate-Reform-ORder-2014.pdf) also sought to increase the transparency and efficiency of the E-rate program.

Chairman Wheeler’s draft order will be in line with the policy goals of the July Order and perhaps most notably, the draft order will include a proposal to raise the E-rate program cap by $1.5 billion. If approved, this increase will bring the total E-rate program cap to $3.9 billion, up from $2.4 billion. According to the Chairman’s Office, more than half of the $1.5 billion increase accounts for inflation since the E-rate program began in 1997, while the remaining amount reflects the Commission’s commitment to building much needed bandwidth.

For more details on the July E-rate Order, check out our [Study Guide](http://www.telecomlawmonitor.com/2014/07/articles/enforcement/e-rate-reform-order-the-study-guide/). The FCC also has prepared a [Fact Sheet](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.kelleydrye.com/content/uploads/blogs/comm-law-monitor/2014/11/Fact-Sheet.pdf) and an [E-rate Data Update](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.kelleydrye.com/content/uploads/blogs/comm-law-monitor/2014/11/E-rate-Data-Update.pdf) with additional information.

 

 **Tags:** [Broadband](https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/blogs/commlaw-monitor/tags/broadband), [E-rate](https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/blogs/commlaw-monitor/tags/e-rate), [FCC](https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/blogs/commlaw-monitor/tags/fcc), [Schools and Libraries Program](https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/blogs/commlaw-monitor/tags/schools-and-libraries-program)

 

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