ECF Closing in on $7.17B End Point with $24M Commitment to 5 States

FCC Expands E-Rate Program to Include Wi-Fi Hotspots

In today’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) open meeting, the commission voted narrowly (3-2) to expand the Universal Service Fund (USF) Schools and Libraries program — also known as the E-Rate program — to support Wi-Fi hotspot “lending.”

The result of the vote is that E-rate resources will be available for schools and libraries to lend Wi-Fi hotspots to students and library users for educational purposes.

This change to the program is modeled on and largely reinstates the COVID-era Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) program, which was administered by the FCC via schools and libraries.

Commissioners were split on the E-rate program change:

  • Commissioner Brendan Carr argued against the E-rate program change, saying that the FCC was overstepping its authority, and the proposed action was based on an “erroneous reading of section 254.”
  • Commissioner Nathan Simington agreed with Commissioner Carr — that the FCC did not have the authority to move forward — and added that “the Wi-Fi hotspots will reduce incentives to physically show up to class.”
  • Commissioner Geoffrey Starks spoke in favor, describing the COVID-era ECF program as a “test run” for the FCC’s E-rate program change.
  • Commissioner Anna M. Gomez also supported the E-rate program change, saying, “This is especially critical now that we have had to halt our nation’s most successful affordability program — the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program — due to the lack of congressional funding.”
  • Finally, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel voted in favor, saying, “I believe every library and every school library in this country should be able to loan out Wi-Fi hotspots to help keep their patrons and kids connected.”

The E-rate program change passed by a 3-2 margin.

The FCC has been considering the program change for more than a year, since Chairwoman Rosenworcel first proposed the change. Rural broadband providers pushed back early this year, when NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association also spoke against the change.

SIMILAR STORIES

Brendan Carr, FCC Commissioner
FCC Chair Carr Outlines Build America Agenda in First Major Policy Speech
Learn more about this post
Money
FCC Pushes Back Deadlines Meant to Reduce Telecom Rates for Inmates
Learn more about this post
Women using computer
FCC Order Limits Use of COVID-Era Lifeline Rule by Four Providers
Learn more about this post