Ubiquiti UniFi E-Rate Eligibility
What is E-Rate?
E-Rate is a federal program that provides discounts on broadband services and network infrastructure to eligible schools and libraries in the United States. The program, administered by USAC (Universal Service Administrative Company) under FCC (Federal Communications Commission) guidelines, helps institutions access affordable high-speed internet.
Discounts range from 20% to 90% based on the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch programs.
How do I apply for E-Rate Funding?
Schools applying for E-Rate funding typically follow these steps:
- Competitive Bidding: Submit Form 470 to start the bidding process and may also issue an RFP if required. Service providers then submit proposals for review.
- Selecting Service Providers: Evaluate bids based on multiple factors, ensuring the price of eligible products and services is the most heavily weighted factor.
- Applying For Discounts: Submit FCC Form 471 to provide USAC with details about the requested services, equipment, and recipients. USAC will review and issue a funding decision.
- Application Review: Program Integrity Assurance (PIA) at USAC verifies application details for accuracy and may request additional information.
- Starting Services: After receiving the Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) and service activation, schools must submit FCC Form 486 to confirm service start.
- Invoices: Schools or service providers submit invoices to USAC to claim E-Rate discounts on approved services.
For detailed steps, visit USAC’s E-Rate Applicant Guide.
What UniFi Products Are E-Rate Eligible?
Products are E-Rate eligible if they can be classified by either of the following:
- Category One: Covers broadband and internet connectivity for schools and libraries, including cable modems, internet gateways, fixed wireless, and cable/fiber infrastructure.
- Category Two: Supports internal network connections within schools and libraries, including routers, switches, access points, and cabling infrastructure.
This includes, but is not limited to, the Ubiquiti Products mentioned in the table below.
| Eligible Products |
Examples |
| Network Gateways and Firewalls |
All Cloud Gateways listed here, and Independent Gateways listed here. EFG, UDM-, UCG-, UXG-, etc. |
| Network Switches (PoE and Non-PoE) |
All switches listed here. ECS-, USW-, US-, etc. |
| WiFi Access Points |
All APs listed here. E7-, U7-, U6-, etc. |
| CloudKeys |
All CloudKeys listed here. UCK-G2-SSD, CK-Enterprise, etc. |
| Network Cabling & Connectivity |
All RJ45 & Copper products listed here, and SFP & Fiber products listed here. UACC-Cable-, U-Cable-, UACC-DAC-, UACC-OM-, UACC-CM-, UACC-AOC-, etc. |
| PoE and Power Tech |
All PoE Adapters, Surge Protectors, and PSUs listed here. U-PoE, UACC-PoE, UACC-PSU-, etc. |
| Internet & LTE |
All Internet Solutions listed here. U-LTE-, UCI-, etc. |
| External Antennas |
WiFi AP antennas listed here. UACC-UK-Ultra-Omni-Antenna, UACC-UK-Ultra-Panel-Antenna, etc. |
Why Choose UniFi For Your E-Rate Deployment?
- Scalable and high-performance networking tailored for K-12 and library environments.
- Cost-effective hardware without annual licensing fees—gone are the days of recurring fees and unexpected renewal costs.
- Intuitive and easy-to-use remote management saves you time and improves administrative efficiency.
- Innovative software with reliable updates to ensure your solution is future-proof.