The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said it has received 2,734 applications from schools, libraries, and consortia of schools and libraries to participate in the agency’s Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program.
In total, applicants have requested $3.7 billion in funding from the program, which is funded at $200 million.
The pilot program, which will run for three years, attracted applicants from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, including schools and libraries in both rural and urban communities. The FCC said that the wide range of applicants will “help facilitate the inclusion of a diverse selection of eligible schools and libraries with differing cybersecurity needs and experiences as participants in the Cybersecurity Pilot Program.”
“The vulnerabilities in the networks we have in our schools and libraries are real – and growing,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “The overwhelming response to our pilot program makes clear that the cybersecurity threats impacting school systems are widespread. The Pilot Program provides an excellent opportunity to both learn from these varied experiences, and also test out solutions in different environments.”
The pilot program will award winning applicants up to $200 million in funding to eligible schools and libraries to defray the costs of eligible cybersecurity services and equipment. Selected applicants will help provide the FCC with data to understand whether and how universal service funds can be used to strengthen school and library cyber defenses.
With the application window closing at the start of this month, the FCC will begin reviewing applications to begin funding as many qualified applicants as possible. The pilot program has a special focus on funding the neediest eligible schools, libraries, and consortia who will benefit most from cybersecurity funding, Tribal entities, and selecting a mix of large and small and urban and rural, schools, libraries, and consortia.
