The FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau has released the Draft Funding Year (FY) 2027 Eligible Services List (ESL) for the E-Rate program. At this stage, no changes have been adopted. Instead, the FCC is seeking public input on several policy questions that could shape future E-Rate eligibility and procurement requirements.
What Applicants Should Know
For Funding Year 2027, the draft ESL does not propose changes to the list of eligible E-Rate services or equipment. Category One and Category Two eligible services remain substantially unchanged from FY2026 while the FCC evaluates broader policy issues.
However, the Bureau is asking stakeholders to comment on several important topics that could affect future funding years, including:
- Whether Managed Internal Broadband Services (MIBS) continue to be a cost-effective eligible service.
- Whether reimbursement for managed services should be based on actual hours worked rather than fixed monthly pricing.
- Whether applicants should provide additional information in FCC Form 470s or Requests for Proposals (RFPs) when seeking managed services to improve bid quality and cost comparisons.
- Whether applicants should be required to compare managed services with purchasing and owning internal connections before selecting MIBS.
- How to prevent ineligible products or services from being bundled with eligible managed service contracts.
- Whether Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) and other usage-based or variable-priced services require additional E-Rate guidance or modifications to FCC Forms 470 and 471.
- Whether new safeguards are needed to ensure E-Rate funding remains focused on cost-effective broadband services.
What This Means for Applicants
At this stage, applicants do not need to revise their FY2027 E‑Rate planning or procurement strategies; the draft ESL primarily opens the door for public comment and gives stakeholders a chance to influence future policy. Organizations that depend on MIBS, NaaS, or other managed networking solutions may want to review the draft closely and consider submitting comments, as these service models are receiving heightened attention.
Important Comment Deadlines
- Comments Due: July 28, 2026
- Reply Comments Due: August 11, 2026
All filings should reference WC Docket Nos. 25-133 and 13-184.
We will continue monitoring this proceeding and will provide updates if the FCC adopts any changes before the FY2027 Eligible Services List is finalized.
FOR PROPOSED ELIGIBLE SERVICES LIST FOR THE E-RATE PROGRAM FOR FY2027 Click Here
