E-rate Trends Report

Now in its 15th year, the E-rate Trends Survey continues to document the evolving role of broadband in education. Since the 2015 Modernization, we’ve maintained a consistent set of survey questions, allowing a decade-long analysis of progress and persistent challenges in connecting every student and library to reliable, high-speed internet. Trends in affordability, administrative ease, and service eligibility paint a picture of steady progress paired with persistent challenges. This longer view highlights both the stability of E-Rate’s core mission and the ways it must continue adapting to meet the demands of a connected future.

1. Stability of Core Mission: Over the past decade, applicants have consistently described E-Rate as vital and reliable. From 2016 through 2025, substantial majorities—often above 90 percent—credit the program with
   affordability, cost-effectiveness, and faster connections. This stability underscores E-Rate’s enduring role as the backbone of broadband access for schools and libraries.
2. Gradual Improvements in Project Ease: Perceptions of administrative ease have improved over time, with satisfaction rising steadily to 81.4 percent in 2025. Still, ease of use lags behind other Federal Communications Commission goals. Undoubtedly, progress has been made, but applicants continue to push for more precise guidance, simpler documentation, and more intuitive systems.
3. Growth in Digital Infrastruciture Demand: Funding patterns reveal a clear upward trend in demand for both Category One (broadband access) and Category Two (internal connections). While C1 remains an annual request, C2’s five-year cycle shows predictable peaks. Both reflect escalating needs for bandwidth, Wi-Fi refreshes, and modernized networks across education and library systems.
4. Expanding the Scope of What "Basic Connectivity" Means: Over the years, applicants’ definitions of core services have evolved. Whereas connectivity once meant Internet access alone, by 2025, stakeholders widely agree that security, management, and redundancy are essential building blocks for effective connectivity. This shift highlights a deeper understanding of what is required to maintain safe, reliable, and equitable networks.
5. Persistent Equity Challenges: Even with decade-long progress, the homework gap remains significant. Year after year, respondents identify it as a barrier for underserved and rural communities. Calls for off-campus support reflect the reality that connectivity needs extend beyond school walls, and that equity will remain a defining theme for the future of E-Rate.