The FCC is committing more than $1.1 billion in the second wave of awards in the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program.
The funding — $1,159,681,350.34 – will support 2,471 schools, 205 libraries and 26 consortia. The newly announced support brings the total awarded so far in the program to $2,362,788,847.22, just under a third of the program’s $7.17 billion total funding.
The funding can be used to buy laptops, tablets, WiFi hotspots, modems, routers and broadband connections for use by students, school staff and library patrons. Off-campus use cases, such as homework and virtual learning, are eligible. The program will be administered by schools and libraries in their areas.
Together, the two funding waves are supporting students, school staff and library patrons in all the states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands. The funding is providing support for 5,420,473 devices and 2,700,834 broadband connections to support 5,474 schools, 461 libraries, and 49 consortia of schools and libraries. Almost 8 million students are involved.
The FCC said that it decided on almost 60% of applications within 60 days of the closing of the first application window, which more than fulfilled its goal of responding to half of all applications within that time frame.
New York has the most committed funding in the Emergency Connectivity program so far, at $401,251,255.99. The Virgin Island has garnered the least with $33,077.60.
“We are providing resources for schools and libraries across the country, from tiny communities in Delta Junction, Alaska supporting Delta Community Library, to large school districts like New York City,” FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a press release about the FCC Emergency Connectivity awards. “Together with the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, the Commission is investing more than $10 billion to support America’s critical broadband needs.”
Late last month, the FCC announced first wave commitments of $1,203,107,496.88 to 3,040 schools, 260 libraries, and 24 consortia in the first wave.
A second funding application window, which opened on September 28, will close Oct. 13 at 11:59 PM ET.
