E-Rate Facts & Figures

The E-Rate reaches a majority of the nation's schools and libraries. According to the Universal Service Administrative Company, 82 percent of public schools, 46 percent of private schools, and 61 percent of the nation's libraries received funding in year three of the program.

The E-Rate is reaching the nation's neediest schools:

E-Rate first year:	59 percent of discounts went to the neediest schools.
E-Rate second year:	54 percent of discounts went to the neediest schools.
E-Rate third year:	69 percent of discounts went to the neediest schools.
E-Rate fourth year:	70 percent of discounts went to the neediest schools.

The U.S. Department of Education estimated that in the first two years of the E-Rate initiative, one million classrooms were connected nationwide.

The E-Rate has helped to improve access quickly for libraries and pubic and private schools.

In 1994, only three percent of instructional classrooms were wired, while in 1999, 63 percent of instructional classrooms were wired. Yet, the Digital Divide still exists. In 1999, 74 percent of classrooms in low-poverty neighborhoods were wired while only 39 percent of the classrooms in low-income areas were wired.

Demand for the E-Rate remains strong. In the E-Rate's fifth year, more than 36,000 E-Rate applications were submitted by schools, libraries, or consortia for discounts. Discounts requested totaled an estimated $5.74 billion. Under the E-Rate rules, the $2.25 billion in discounts will be distributed according to the following priorities: All telecommunications services and Internet services are discounted first, then internal connections are covered starting with the neediest schools until the $2.25 billion cap is reached.