​On September 18, NRECA filed reply comments with the FCC in response to a notice of proposed rulemaking seeking comment on the services eligible for funding under the Schools and Library Program (E-Rate) under the Federal Universal Service Fund.  The program helps connect schools and libraries to the Internet.  In the reply comments, NRECA recommended the FCC maintain funding for Category Two Services, such as internal connections, managed internal broadband services and basic maintenance of internal connections.  Schools and libraries in rural areas are more likely to lack the in-house expertise to self-provision these services requiring them to rely on their ISP, the comments said