Connecting Oregon Schools Fund (COSF) Program

Overview

The Connecting Oregon Schools Fund (COSF) was established to provide state match dollars to the federal E-Rate program for Broadband Infrastructure Special Construction projects. The federal program will provide up to an additional 10% towards construction costs in addition to the federal E-Rate subsidy discount to match state funds contributed to the projects. The COSF program can also help with additional project gap funding.

Please refer to OAR 581-028-0005 through 581-028-0015 for COSF definitions and grant program procedures.

See the Federal E-Rate Program Resources page for further information regarding the federal E-Rate program.

Note: This page is being continuously updated. Please check back regularly.

Funding Information

COSF received $17.5 million in Lottery Bond funding in the spring 2023 bond sale. These funds will be utilized to provide grants for construction projects in E-Rate Funding Year 2024 and 2025.

The program fund also received allocation for an additional $15 million in Lottery Bond funds to be sold in spring of 2025 for construction projects in E-Rate Funding Year 2026 and 2027.

Current Funding Availability

$17.5 million is currently available in the COSF fund ahead of the 2024 E-Rate Funding Year. This balance will be updated after each COSF application window.

Application

The COSF application period for the 2024 E-Rate Funding Year is anticipated to open on January 17th, 2024, with applications due by February 29th.

The application will be submitted via Microsoft Forms. When completing the application, it is not possible to save your progress and come back to it. As such, please use the question list document below to prepare your answers prior to submitting a response to the Microsoft Form.

List of Application Questions (coming soon)
Grant Application Submission Form (coming soon)

Program Information

Program Summary (coming soon)
Frequently Asked Questions (will be available after the E-Rate Funding Year 2024 application period)
List of Reputable E-Rate Consultants

Grant Timeline

Detailed Timeline (coming soon)
July - December (prior to E-Rate Funding Year applying for): Construction planning and competitive biding process begins. FCC Form 470 window opens.
January - February: E-Rate Application Window opens mid-January. COSF Application Period opens mid-January and closes mid-February.
End of February - beginning of March: Last day to file FCC Form 470 for the upcoming funding year occurs. COSF applicants will be notified of grant allocations at minimum 1 week prior to the closing of the E-Rate Application Window.
March - June: E-Rate Application Window closes in March and USAC will review applications through the end of June.
July of E-Rate Funding Year: Once the project Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) is received, projects may begin as soon as 7/1. The COSF Grant Agreement will be fully executed when the FCDL for the project is received.
June 30th one year following FCDL: Project completion date (see detailed timeline for more info).

Contact Us

Have questions? Email the COSF Program Administrator.
Want the most current COSF program updates? Sign up for our Broadband Connectivity Newsletter! Visit the Newsletter Archive for past newsletters.

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