Bring 21st Century Library Services to All New Yorkers:
SUPPORT E-RATE

What is the E-Rate Program?

On May 7, 1997, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Universal Service Order implementing the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Order, commonly referred to as "E-Rate" (Education Rate), ensures that all eligible schools and libraries have affordable access to modern telecommunications and information services. Up to $2.25 billion annually was authorized initially to provide eligible schools and libraries with E-Rate discounts. The amount actually allocated by Congress for 1998-99 was $1.9 billion, but the full $2.25 billion has been authorized each year beginning with 1999-2000.

How does the E-Rate Program help New York State Libraries?

The E-Rate Program provides funding to eligible public libraries and public library systems, school library media centers and school library systems, not-for-profit special libraries, and reference and research library resources systems.  For each Program Year (1-9), an average total of 387 libraries and library systems in New York State received an average total of $12.7 million from the E-Rate Program. This funding helps libraries purchase telecommunications services, Internet connectivity, and internal connections to meet the information needs of New Yorkers.

Year 1 (1998) - $17,254,278.73;  Year 2 (1999) - $12,863,403.76; Year 3 (2000) - $14,851,224.23; Year 4 (2001) - $15,278,086.87;
Year 5 (2002) - $11,384,804.35; Year 6 (2003) - $11,784,589.80; Year 7 (2004) - $9,850,998.84; Year 8 (2005) - $6,742,134.98;
Year 9 (2006)* - $14,161,187.63; Year 10 (2007)** - $18,396,656.51

*Waves to date 1-60 August 1, 2007
**Waves to date 1-29 November 20, 2007

The information on this page is also available for downloading as a one-page flyer in .PDF format