Nebraska EdTech Leaders: 2026–2027 School Year & Critical E-Rate Updates

As the calendar turns to August and our hallways fill with students and staff once again, CoSNE wants to extend a warm welcome back to all of our educational technology leaders across Nebraska.

Whether your summer was spent deploying fresh hardware, tackling infrastructure overhauls, or refining your district’s security posture, your dedication behind the scenes is what makes modern, connected learning possible. To our IT directors, network administrators, and technology coordinators: thank you. Your hard work lays the foundation for a successful school year for every student and educator in our state.

As we kick off this new academic year, we also need to address a critical federal policy development that requires our collective attention.

Critical E-Rate Updates & Proposed FCC Changes

E-Rate remains the vital backbone of school connectivity, providing essential discounts that make broadband and internal network services affordable for districts large and small. Over the summer, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) exploring significant potential shifts to the E-Rate program.

Key elements under consideration by the FCC include:

• Program Scope: Seeking comment on whether the E-Rate program should be narrowed or reoriented away from its current structure.
• Screen Time & Educational Purpose: Exploring measures to assess student screen time and re-examining how E-Rate-funded networks are utilized.
• CIPA Compliance: Re-evaluating current interpretations of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).
• Consultant Oversight: Proposing stricter compliance, registration, and reporting requirements for E-Rate consulting services.

Take Action: #SaveOurERate

These discussions carry significant implications for how Nebraska schools plan, fund, and secure their networks. In response, CoSN National, alongside the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, AASA, and the ALA, has mobilized the #SaveOurERate initiative.

As a statewide chapter, our strength lies in our shared voice. We encourage Nebraska EdTech leaders to engage with these developments:

1. Review the Resources: Visit the SHLB #SaveOurERate Action Center to access state funding data, analysis papers, and guidance on the rulemaking process.
2. File Comments: Ensure that the unique perspective of Nebraska’s rural and urban school systems is represented in federal dockets. The SHLB site provides templates and step-by-step instructions.
3. Contact Elected Officials: Use CoSN and SHLB’s pre-written email templates to quickly contact your representatives and explain the local impact of these potential changes.

Join Us for Our August Statewide Meeting

To help our members navigate these E-Rate updates, share back-to-school deployment strategies, and connect with peers across the state, CoSNE is hosting our next statewide membership meeting:

• Date: Monday, August 24, 2026
• Time: 2:00 PM CDT
• Location: Virtual meeting (link available via member communications)

Let’s make it a fantastic and smooth start to the 2026–2027 school year. We look forward to connecting with you on August 24!