On February 20, 2018, the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau announced that the inflation-based funding cap for Funding Year 2018 will be $4.06 billion, an increase of 1.8% from FY2017. This inflation increase represents an increase of $71.8 million with $53.4 million being for category one services and $18.4 million increase for category two services.
From Funding Year 1998 through 2010, the funding cap was set at $2.25 billion. In its Sixth Report & Order, the Commission began to adjust the funding cap on an annual basis to account for inflation starting with FY2011. The following chart illustrates the annual funding cap and requests for E-rate discounts since the beginning of the program. The total demand for Funding Year 2018 will not be available until after the close of its filing window.
From Funding Year 1998 through 2010, the funding cap was set at $2.25 billion. In its Sixth Report & Order, the Commission began to adjust the funding cap on an annual basis to account for inflation starting with FY2011. The following chart illustrates the annual funding cap and requests for E-rate discounts since the beginning of the program. The total demand for Funding Year 2018 will not be available until after the close of its filing window.
