E-rate for Libraries

At FirstLight, we’re experts in connectivity, having served hundreds of schools through E-Rate funding, part of the Federal Communications Commission program to facilitate Internet access for children. Did you know that libraries are often eligible for E-rate Category 2 solutions? If you haven’t pursued Category 2 funding, you may be leaving precious dollars on the table.

Category 2 solutions provide connectivity within a location instead of to a location. These solutions include components like firewalls, routers and switches. These devices are a critical link in the chain of technology required to keep libraries well-connected and safe. FirstLight provides the Category 2-eligible devices and services you need so you can take full advantage of allotted federal resources and make the most of your budget dollars.

FirstLight has expertise in meeting Form 470 connectivity requirements and other qualifications, too. FirstLight has a dedicated team of education and library solutions experts serving more than 500 schools and libraries throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states.

FirstLight has everything you need to accommodate internal connectivity throughout your library. We’re a Cisco Premier Partner, and work with a number of other equipment suppliers including Lenovo, Extreme Networks, Cradlepoint, Hewlett Packard, and others.

Our Category 2-eligible offerings include*:

• Cabling
• Firewall services and components
• Routers
• Switches
• Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)/Battery Backup units
• Access points used in a local area network (LAN) or wireless local area network (WLAN) environment (such as wireless access points)
• Wireless controller systems

* Some managed services may also qualify for Category 2 funding. Check with your E-rate advisor, municipal office, or school district to see if some managed services qualify.