E-Rate Information and Training

E-Rate Information and Training Laura Solomon (not verified)

Did you know that public libraries are eligible to receive discounts on internet connection, wireless access and hardware that supports internet access through the E-rate program? By filling out a few forms you can get as much as a 90% discount on your bills.

The telephone companies and the federal government collect this money from every telephone customer, but unless you ask for it, this money just sits in Washington.

Because it is so important that libraries claim their E-rate money, OPLIN supports workshops on E-rate for public libraries each fall. The workshops are presented by Lorrie Germann, State E-rate Coordinator. Lorrie is also available to answer individual questions from public libraries about E-rate issues. You may contact Lorrie at 740-253-1153 or lorrie.germann@gmail.com.

PDF copies of the workshop slides can be found here.

Click "Show More" below the videos to find indexes of topics you can jump to the exact subject that interests you. In addition, you can find more E-rate related recordings (including both an overview and a walkthrough for the FCC's Emergency Connectivity Fund) at OPLIN's YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/c/oplinorg.

Libraries participating in the E-rate program must be compliant with the Children’s Internet and Protection Act, also known as CIPA.  These restrictions take the form of requirements for Internet safety policies and technology which blocks or filters certain material from being accessed through the Internet. More information on CIPA compliance is available here. Additionally, OPLIN provides internet filtering at no charge to public libraries. More information, including steps to getting an account, is available here.

E-rate Discount Rate

E-rate Discount Rate don

This chart contains the current E-rate discount percentage for Ohio library systems with branches. The average monthly recurring cost for a 100 Mbps Ethernet circuit is approximately $400, and the chart shows what that would cost a library after E-rate discounts are applied.

Library Name Category 1 Discount Approx Monthly Cost 100 Mbps
Adams County Public Library - OH0129 80% $80
Akron-Summit County Public Library - OH0002 90% $40
Ashtabula County District Library - OH0012 90% $40
Athens County Public Libraries - OH0156 80% $80
Auglaize County District Public Library - OH0225 70% $120
Barberton Public Library - OH0016 80% $80
Belmont County District Library - OH0133 80% $80
Birchard Public Library of Sandusky County - OH0086 70% $120
Briggs Lawrence County Public Library - OH0107 60% $160
Brown County Public Library - OH0090 70% $120
Brumback Library - OH0221 70% $120
Carnegie Public Library (Washington CH) - OH0227 80% $80
Carroll County District Library - OH0042 70% $120
Champaign County Library - OH0220 80% $80
Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library - OH0048 90% $40
Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library - OH0049 90% $40
Clark County Public Library - OH0204 90% $40
Claymont Public Library - OH0068 80% $80
Clermont County Public Library - OH0018 80% $80
Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library - OH0053 90% $40
Cleveland Public Library - OH0051 90% $40
Columbus Metropolitan Library - OH0057 90% $40
Coshocton Public Library - OH0059 90% $40
Crestline Public Library - OH0061 90% $40
Cuyahoga County Public Library - OH0052 60% $160
Dayton Metro Library - OH0063 90% $40
Defiance Public Library - OH0064 70% $120
Delaware County District Library - OH0065 50% $200
Elyria Public Library - OH0077 80% $80
Fairfield County District Library - OH0116 80% $80
Findlay-Hancock County Public Library - OH0081 50% $200
Franklin-Springboro Public Libraries - OH0085 60% $160
Garnet A Wilson Public Library of Pike County - OH0229 80% $80
Geauga County Public Library - OH0046 50% $200
Greene County Public Library - OH0247 80% $80
Guernsey County District Public Library - OH0037 80% $80
Harris-Elmore Public Library - OH0076 60% $160
Highland County District Library - OH0101 80% $80
Holmes County District Public Library - OH0146 70% $120
Huron County Community Library - OH0241 80% $80
Ida Rupp Public Library - OH0188 70% $120
Kate Love Simpson-Morgan County Library - OH0139 80% $80
Lakewood Public Library - OH0115 50% $200
Lane Public Library - OH0100 80% $80
Licking County Library - OH0163 80% $80
Lima Public Library - OH0121 90% $40
Logan County Libraries - OH0021 70% $120
Logan-Hocking County District Library - OH0123 80% $80
Lorain Public Library System - OH0125 90% $40
Mansfield-Richland County Public Library - OH0130 90% $40
Marion Public Library - OH0132 90% $40
Mary L Cook Public Library - OH0231 40% $240
Marysville Public Library - OH0134 50% $200
Massillon Public Library - OH0136 90% $40
McKinley Memorial Library - OH0166 80% $80
Medina County District Library - OH0141 50% $200
Meigs County District Public Library - OH0187 90% $40
Mentor Public Library - OH0142 40% $240
Mercer County District Public Library - OH0043 70% $120
MidPointe Library System - OH0144 90% $40
Milan-Berlin Public Libraries - OH0145 60% $160
Muskingum County Library System - OH0250 90% $40
Napoleon Public Library - OH0155 70% $120
Patrick Henry School District Public Library - OH0069 60% $160
Paulding County Carnegie Library - OH0179 70% $120
Pemberville Public Library - OH0180 50% $200
Peninsula Library - OH0181 70% $120
Perry County District Library - OH0158 80% $80
Pickaway County District Public Library - OH0050 80% $80
Pickerington Public Library - OH0184 60% $160
Portage County District Library - OH0089 60% $160
Portsmouth Public Library - OH0189 90% $40
Preble County District Library - OH0075 60% $160
Public Library of Mt Vernon and Knox County - OH0153 80% $80
Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County - OH0208 90% $40
Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County - OH0248 90% $40
Puskarich Public Library - OH0035 80% $80
Putnam County District Library - OH0176 50% $200
Ridgemont Public Library - OH0154 50% $200
Rodman Public Library - OH0005 90% $40
Sabina Public Library - OH0197 70% $120
Sandusky Library - OH0199 80% $80
Shaker Heights Public Library - OH0200 50% $200
Shelby County Libraries - Amos Memorial - OH0203 80% $80
Southwest Public Libraries - OH0099 80% $80
St. Paris Public Library - OH0207 60% $160
Stark County District Library - OH0039 90% $40
Toledo-Lucas County Public Library - OH0215 90% $40
Troy-Miami County Public Library - OH0216 60% $160
Tuscarawas County Public Library - OH0161 70% $120
Union Township Public Library - OH0192 90% $40
Upper Arlington Public Library - OH0218 40% $240
Warren-Trumbull County Public Library - OH0226 90% $40
Washington County Public Library - OH0131 70% $120
Washington-Centerville Public Library - OH0045 40% $240
Wayne County Public Library - OH0245 70% $120
Weston Public Library - OH0239 60% $160
Williams County Public Library - OH0032 70% $120
Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library - OH0242 60% $160
Wilmington Public Library of Clinton County - OH0243 80% $80
Wood County District Public Library - OH0029 50% $200
Worthington Libraries - OH0246 50% $200

Statewide Library Branch Assistance Plan

Statewide Library Branch Assistance Plan

Each year, OPLIN issues a statewide, competitive bidding opportunity for broadband vendors to provide library branch circuits. OPLIN cannot pay for the branch circuits, but by releasing a statewide RFP through the E-rate system, we've found that libraries get better pricing and terms than when they act on their own. Libraries could then locally request E-rate discounts against the bids received in the statewide call for proposals. You can view a short video explanation for more information.

To participate, please fill out and submit the form below by November 1, 2023, for each branch you want to include in the omnibus RFP.

Questions? Email branch470@oplin.ohio.gov.

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