Today, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr launched a rulemaking proceeding to ensure the agency’s E-Rate program produces strong educational outcomes and better protects children online.
The notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which the full Commission is scheduled to consider at its June 25 open meeting, comes amid growing concern about excessive screen time in schools. Carr cited a 2026 advisory from the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Surgeon General that linked heavy screen use among children to worsening academic results, including weaker reading comprehension.
“While parents have the ability to supervise screen use and monitor internet access at home, that parental control does not extend the same way into their kids’ classrooms and libraries,” Carr said in the press release.
The FCC has been subsidizing school and library connectivity for nearly 30 years through the E-Rate program, spending roughly $3 billion annually.
A senior FCC official who briefed the media today said the proceeding is primarily focused on whether current rules adequately protect children, noting that the program was established in an era of supervised computer labs — not the one-to-one device environments common in schools today.
The notice seeks comment on three main areas.
First, the FCC asks whether E-Rate-funded networks and services are being used for educational purposes consistent with the program’s statutory mandate.
It also asks whether the FCC’s current interpretation of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is the best reading of that law and whether existing CIPA requirements adequately shield children from inappropriate content when using school or library computers and E-Rate-funded networks.
Finally, it seeks comment on legal and policy considerations for assessing children’s screen time and empowering parents, guardians, and teachers in decisions about access to E-Rate-funded networks.
The senior FCC official said that, while the proceeding does raise the question of whether the E-Rate program has fulfilled its original congressional mission — given how broadly schools are now connected — reducing the program’s funding cap is not among the proposals being considered. The official emphasized that program integrity and child safety are the primary focus of the item.
The proceeding is the latest step in what Carr has described as a “top-to-bottom” evaluation of the E-Rate program. The FCC has already rolled back COVID-era expansions, including funding for off-campus Wi-Fi hotspots and school bus Wi-Fi, which the agency determined exceeded its congressional authority.
Earlier this year, the FCC took steps to reduce E-Rate fraud by establishing an online competitive bidding portal. A new FCC E-Rate portal aims to reduce fraud and simplify access.
