In an effort to provide relief to E-Rate program participants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wireline Competition Bureau (the Bureau) has announced that it has granted the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition’s Request for Waiver in part. The Bureau has waived and extended the special construction service delivery deadline to June 30, 2022, for all funding year 2019 and 2020 applicants with deadlines that expire on June 30, 2021, or during 2021. The Bureau has not extended this deadline for applicants from funding years whose deadline was previously extended to June 30, 2021; however, these applicants may request a waiver from the FCC.
The Bureau seeks to mitigate disruption to schools, libraries, and other entities that were closed for long periods of time during the pandemic.
