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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

$17.2 million is currently available in the Connecting Oregon Schools Fund ahead of the 2025 E-Rate Funding Year. This balance will be updated after each COSF application window.

Application

Any Oregon School District, Public Charter School, Education Service District (ESD), or Consortium that may be pursuing a Special Construction Fiber Project for E-Rate Funding Year 2025 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026) or Funding Year 2026 (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026) is encouraged to submit a Notice of Intent to Participate to ODE as soon as possible.

For applicants pursuing a Special Construction Fiber Project through E-Rate for Funding Year 2025, the COSF Notice of Intent to Participate is due by December 13th, 2024.

The Notice of Intent to Participate will be submitted via the COSF Program Submission Form Smartsheet. When completing the form, it is not possible to save your progress and come back to it. As such, please use the questions list document below to prepare your answers.

Note: The COSF Program Submission Form may also be completed to request further information or a program consultation prior to submitting a Notice of Intent to Participate.

Program Resources

Application Process

While the Connecting Oregon Schools Fund (COSF) Grant is administered by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE), it is contingent upon participation in the federal E-rate Program, administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC).

Any Oregon School District, Public Charter School, Education Service District (ESD), or Consortium that is eligible for the E-rate Program is eligible for the COSF Program, but applicants must receive a Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) from USAC specifically for Special Construction to receive COSF Grant Funds.

With the COSF Grant application being intertwined with the application timeline for the federal E-Rate Program, ODE has a phased approach to the COSF application process (outlined below). For a more detailed outline of how the COSF application timeline aligns with the E-Rate application timeline, please review the COSF Grant Application Process Timeline (coming soon).

Phase 1

  • Submit Notice of Intent to Participate by December deadline through the COSF Program Form. Notices for Funding Year 2025 are due by December 13th, 2024.
  • ODE will review notices and evaluate if prioritization of funds will be needed. Applicants will be notified of completed review with conditional approval before January 1, 2025. With this notification, ODE will include a pre-populated application template.
  • Applicants will complete the RFP and FCC Form 470 competitive bidding process and finalize the selected contract for the construction project.
  • Applicants will submit the completed Application Template, posted RFP, Bids Received, and Contract to ODE.
  • Upon review of documentation, ODE will provide a Letter of Intent to Award to the applicant to submit with their FCC Form 471 to USAC.

Phase 2

  • USAC will issue a Funding Commitment Decision Letter (FCDL) to the applicant, and the applicant will submit the FCDL to ODE, finalizing the application process.
  • ODE will execute a COSF grant agreement with the applicant.

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