E-Rate Funding Experts For School Networks & Wi-Fi Solutions
WAV has the largest and most consistent stocking position in the education market, and your dedicated sales representative is engaged by taking a responsive, communicative, and pro-active approach to your business, acting as a gateway to a wide breadth of supply chain, finance, engineering, and logistical resources unrivaled by our peers.
Wi-Fi technology has been globally adopted in both indoor and outdoor venues to bring voice, video and data communication to our schools, libraries, businesses, senior living communities, dormitories, and many more multi-dwelling facilities, and is the backbone by which we communicate, allowing applications for IOT (Internet of Things), VoIP (Voice over IP), IP video surveillance as well as many others.
As more and more BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) technology continues to push the pace in offering the latest and greatest Wi-Fi technology, learning facilities with obsolete networks look to us and our partners to solve their most complex gigabit wireless challenges.
Why WAV?
WAV offers Wi-Fi solutions, networking equipment and wireless broadband technology for school networks and libraries. All the Wi-Fi solutions, networking equipment and wireless broadband technology we supply to these institutions are eligible for e-rate funding; a US federal subsidy program that bridges the digital divide and aims to bring digital equality to schools and places of learning that otherwise cannot afford to have or upgrade their school networks.
How E-Rate Works
Eligible schools that are looking to upgrade their networks with Wi-Fi solutions and networking equipment leverage a form 470 available at www.usac.org. FCC Form 470 is a "Description of Services Requested and Certification Form", and is the first form that must be filed by a school or library in the E-rate application process. The rules for determining the eligibility of existing and new contracts for E-rate purposes are quite precise and must be carefully followed.
After a mandatory public bidding window for integrators as well as approval from USAC, the school will then move to a Form 471 "Description of Services Ordered and Certification Form". This is the second form that must be filed by a school or library in the E-rate application process. Its purpose is to individually list all contracts and services for which the applicant is requesting discounts for the Wi-Fi solutions, networking equipment or wireless broadband technology the school or library intends on using for their school network. After final approval, the school may move forward with their project and receive funding.
WAV Recommends
Cambium Networks' XV3-8 Wi-Fi 6 Access Point, a Wi-Fi solution that delivers reliable, consistent connectivity to school faculty and students alike. Cambium Networks set themselves apart by offering a centralized cloud management solution (cnMaestro) that enables optimized school network performance. In addition, Cambium Networks Wi-Fi solutions are scalable, and can cover one individual school, or span district-wide to support more than 10,000 students. Cambium Networks technologies are designed to deliver high-bandwidth, stable internet at all times—even under heavy load. Gigabit speeds power classroom learning, while reliable connectivity ensures the focus can be kept on learning—and not on IT infrastructure.
Contact WAV today to align with a dedicated WAV sales representative. As your wireless broadband and Wi-Fi solutions distributor, we would love to work with you and make your next school networks/e-rate funding project a success.
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What's new in 2024?
- School Bus Wi-Fi became eligible in 2024
- Move to make Cyber Security Pilot $200M for 3 years announced
- 2025 will be a “Use it or Lose it” year for Category 2 budget
The Rules for 2021 and beyond…
- Since 2021 the Category 2 Budgets will be fixed for each 5 year period going forward
- Budgets from 2021 and beyond will be on a school district or library system basis.
- Funding Floor increase to $25,000 per site
- The per-student Category 2 budget allocation will be $167 for schools through 2025