2025 Texas State Match Fund for E-rate - FY 2025 & FY 2026

Overview

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is offering a State Match Fund to support eligible school systems in maximizing their federal E-rate Category One funding. This initiative helps bridge the remaining cost gap for high-poverty districts seeking broadband infrastructure improvements.

Important Notice: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has not yet launched the application portal for the State Match Program. Please stay tuned for updates and announcements regarding the program's activation and submission timelines.

Eligibility - FY 2025 

• Eligibility under Government Code Section 490I.0106: To qualify for the FY2025 state match, schools must meet the definition of an unserved or underserved Community Anchor Institution (CAI). Specifically, an unserved CAI is a location that lacks access to reliable gigabit-level broadband service, defined as speeds of 1 Gbps download / 20 Mbps upload. For schools applying as part of a consortium, the following thresholds apply:
  • At least 80% of consortium locations must be unserved CAIs (below 1 Gbps/20 Mbps).
  • No more than 20% of consortium locations may be served locations (with speeds of at least 100 Mbps/20 Mbps).
• To apply for this non-competitive grant, your school system must have an 80% or higher percentage of students eligible for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
• If you filed a 470 by February 2025 and filed a 471 by March 26, 2025, and the work was expended after September 1, 2025, your school system is eligible to fill out the grant application.
• Funds are first-come first first-served. 

Eligibility - FY 2026

Details coming soon. Stay tuned for updates on funding availability and eligibility criteria.

Application Workflow

Details coming soon.

Resources

Universal Service Administrative Co. (USAC) – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
TEA Submission Forms - Pending