Cabling, Wi-Fi and security for schools and campuses
Cablify installs network cabling, fiber, Wi-Fi, security cameras, access control and the wiring behind panic alarms and phone systems in K-12 schools, colleges and universities.
- Public schools with cameras
- 93%, 2021-22
- Schools controlling building access
- 97%, 2021-22
- E-Rate Category Two, FY2026-2030
- $201.57 per student
- States with Alyssa’s Law
- 13 as of 2026
E-Rate Category Two
E-Rate Category Two pays part of the cost of internal connections: cabling, switches, routers, racks, UPS units, wireless access points and controllers, caching, and firewall components beyond basic protection. Schools apply against a fixed five-year budget.
For funding years 2026 to 2030, the school budget multiplier is $201.57 per student, with a floor of $30,175. Unused budget from the previous cycle did not carry over.
In June 2026 the FCC asked whether the program should be scaled back or ended, with reply comments due November 12, 2026. We plan schedules around each funding year’s commitments.
How E-Rate work is bought
The district runs the bid
- The district posts its needs on FCC Form 470 and runs a competitive bid
- Service providers bidding E-Rate work register with USAC
- Installation follows the funding commitment for that year
- Invoices and closeout records match what was approved
Your E-Rate consultant or business office runs the filing. We provide scopes, drawings and quotes that fit it.
Panic alarms and Alyssa’s Law
Thirteen states have passed versions of Alyssa’s Law, and the rules differ from state to state.
New Jersey passed the first in 2019. Florida, New York, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, Oklahoma, Georgia, Washington, Oregon, Virginia, West Virginia and Illinois followed, according to Make Our Schools Safe. Some laws require silent panic alarms that alert law enforcement, and others ask districts to consider them.
Illinois’ law takes effect January 1, 2027, and districts must consider mobile panic alert systems by the 2028-29 school year.
- Network and power for fixed panic buttons and mobile alert systems
- Card access and door position sensors on entries, with lockdown from the front office
- Cameras at entrances, vestibules, hallways and parking
- Wi-Fi and cellular coverage checks so mobile alerts work in every room
Phones that reach 9-1-1
Under Kari’s Law and the RAY BAUM’S Act, multi-line phone systems installed after February 16, 2020, including those owned by public agencies and nonprofits, must let any phone dial 9-1-1 directly and notify a central location such as the front office. Fixed phones must send a dispatchable location, such as the building, floor and room, and that deadline passed on January 6, 2021.
A dispatchable location is only as good as the records behind it. We label every port and phone drop to the room it serves and hand over a port map your phone vendor can load, so a 9-1-1 call from Room 214 says Room 214.
Built around the school calendar
Most cabling in schools happens when students are not in the building.
Summer projects
Large refreshes and new wings scheduled for June to August, with materials ordered in spring.
Breaks and weekends
Smaller changes during winter and spring breaks or on weekends.
Classrooms
Drops for teacher stations, displays and printers, with access points placed for a full class of devices.
Campus backbones
Fiber between buildings, gyms, portables and athletic fields.
Residence halls
Wired and wireless networks for students on campuses with housing.
Visitor rules
Crews check in and work under the school’s visitor and supervision rules.
Common questions
Is cabling eligible for E-Rate?
Yes. Cabling is on the Category Two eligible services list, along with switches, access points, racks and UPS units. The district files the request and runs the competitive bid.
Can you install panic alarm systems?
We install the network, power and door hardware wiring those systems use, and coordinate with the alarm vendor the district or state program selects.
Do Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’S Act apply to schools?
They apply to multi-line phone systems installed after February 16, 2020, and the rules cover systems owned by public agencies and nonprofits, so public districts and nonprofit colleges are included.
Can the work happen while school is in session?
Small jobs can be done after hours or on weekends. Larger projects are usually scheduled for summer or breaks.
Request a quote for a school or campus
Send the school address, the scope and your timeline. If the project is E-Rate funded, include the funding year and the Form 470 number.