There was “strong interest” in the Federal Communications Commission’s new cybersecurity pilot program for schools and libraries during the application process this fall, according to an FCC announcement on Friday.
The federal pilot program is set to provide up to $200 million over three years to a select, diverse array of schools and libraries to assist with covering the costs for cybersecurity services and equipment.
With the application window for the pilot program recently closing on Nov. 1, applicant interest far exceeded the program’s allocated funds. The FCC said it received 2,734 applications totaling $3.7 billion in requests from schools, libraries, and consortia of schools and libraries to fund cybersecurity needs during the pilot's three-year period.
The high demand for cybersecurity supports comes at a time when cash-strapped schools are increasingly vulnerable to serious cyberattacks, particularly ransomware threats.
“The vulnerabilities in the networks we have in our schools and libraries are real — and growing,” said FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement. “The overwhelming response to our pilot program makes clear that the cybersecurity threats impacting school systems are widespread. The Pilot Program provides an excellent opportunity to both learn from these varied experiences, and also test out solutions in different environments.”
Advocates of the federal program have noted that the $200 million currently available in the pilot to boost schools and libraries’ cybersecurity support is too low to meet needs nationwide.
The funds, which have yet to be distributed to a selected number of schools and libraries under the pilot program, will range from a minimum $15,000 to a maximum of $1.5 million, depending on a funding formula that calculates the cost at $13.60 per student.
Schools and libraries may use the funds for securing their networks within four categories: advanced or next-generation firewalls; endpoint protection; identity protection and authentication; and monitoring, detection and response. Pilot program participants, however, will be required to pay a portion of the costs for any cybersecurity services or equipment purchased using the federal program dollars.
