In past funding years, the portion of web hosting services that provided access to intranet or password-protected Web pages was considered ineligible for E-rate funding. USAC has listened to feedback from both applicants and service providers on this issue, and agreed that the current status of these services warranted further review. Consequently – and after consultation with the Federal Communications Commission -USAC will now consider this access eligible beginning with Funding Year 2009 applications.

(Schools and Libraries News Brief. April 10, 2009)