Before You Begin

Educational Purposes

In its Second Report and Order (FCC 03-101, released April 30, 2003), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) amended its rules to clarify the meaning of educational purposes as follows: [A]ctivities that are integral, immediate, and proximate to the education of students, or in the case of libraries, integral, immediate, and proximate to the provision of library services to library patrons, qualify as "educational purposes."

Activities that occur on library or school property are presumed to be integral, immediate, and proximate to the education of students or the provision of library services to library patrons.

Eligibility of Priority 1 Services Off-site

In certain limited circumstances, telecommunications services used offsite may be eligible.

Examples of these eligible uses include "a school bus driver's use of wireless telecommunications services while delivering children to and from school, a library staff person's use of wireless telecommunications service on a library's mobile library unit van, and the use by teachers or other school staff of wireless telecommunications service while accompanying students on a field trip or sporting event."

This provision applies to telecommunications services only. Internet access services used offsite, including email services, are not eligible for funding.

See Non-Instructional Facilities for a discussion of the eligibility of Priority 1 and Priority 2 services delivered on-site.

Eligible Activities

The customary activities that occur on school or library property are now presumed to fall under the definition of educational purposes.

Examples of eligible activities for schools now include, but are not limited to, the school-related activities of school administrators, school counselors, school nurses, school technology workers, cafeteria workers, security guards, and school bus drivers. Examples of eligible activities for libraries now include, but are not limited to, the library-related activities of library administrators, library technology workers, library bookmobile drivers, interlibrary loan workers, and security guards. All eligible products and services must be provided to and paid for by the entities indicated as receiving service.