E-Rate for FY 2025:
For the first time this year, USAC did not issue a FY 2025 funding wave last week. Total funding for FY 2025 stands at $2.45 billion. Currently, USAC has funded 93.0% of submitted applications, representing 82.0% of the dollars requested.
Cybersecurity Pilot Program:
The Form 471 application window for the Cybersecurity Pilot Program closed on September 15, 2025. Total pilot funding is capped at $200 million for 690 applicants.
After months of PIA inactivity, aside from some reminders to file Form 484 Part 2s, we have recently seen an uptick in inquiries seeking additional details on requested products and services. As discussed in last week’s newsletter, there was a hint in USAC’s most recent Cybersecurity Pilot Program Newsletter that the first Funding Commitment Decisions Letters (“FCDLs”) will not be released until “early 2026.” Our earlier hope to see the first cyber FCDLs released this year appears to have been overly optimistic.