FRESNO, Calif, (KSEE/KGPE) - Seven school districts in the Central Valley will be participating in a three-year cybersecurity pilot program that will explore the use of universal service funds to improve schools and districts against cyberattacks, the Federal Communications Commission announced Thursday. According to the FCC, 707 participants for the cybersecurity pilot program were selected. As selected participants in the program, libraries, consortia, districts and schools will receive support to defray the costs of eligible cybersecurity services and equipment and provide the FCC with data to understand whether and how universal service funds could be used to improve school and library defenses against increasing cyberattacks. The seven school districts in the Central Valley that will be participating in the FCC's program are: Fresno Unified School District Parlier Unified School District Madera Unified School District Kerman Unified School District Porterville Unified School District Hanford Elementary School District Earlimart Elementary School District The FCC says that the shift to modern connectivity has brought increased cybersecurity threats and attacks, particularly for K-12 schools and libraries. According to the FCC, the $200 million budget uses reserved, unused universal service funds to ensure that gains in enhanced cybersecurity do not come at the cost of undermining E-Rate success in promoting digital opportunities or all and basic connectivity.