The Biden administration is taking action to address the loss of a program that helped over 23 million families afford internet access. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to “modernize” the E-Rate program, which assists libraries and schools in providing WiFi hotspots to students and patrons. Jessica Rosenworcel, FCC Chairwoman, visited a Los Angeles elementary school where mothers shared their struggles with maintaining internet connectivity due to the high costs of rent and food.
Rosenworcel called their stories “chilling,” emphasizing the importance of internet access for children to thrive in the modern world. The E-Rate program, established in the 1990s, has provided over $7 billion in discounts for eligible schools and libraries since 2022.
Fcc enhances E-Rate for WiFi hotspots
The program has been expanded to include WiFi on school buses and will soon include WiFi hotspots. This decision was partly in response to the failure to extend the Affordable Connectivity Program subsidies. Alex Houff, who manages digital equity programs for the Baltimore County Public Library in Maryland, said their WiFi hotspot lending program has grown to 1,000 devices but still falls short of meeting demand.
Affordability remains the biggest barrier to internet access. However, the expansion of the E-Rate program has faced opposition from the two Republican commissioners, who argue that the program should focus on supporting internet access within classrooms, not at home or other places where students “might want to learn.”
Despite these disagreements, Rosenworcel remains confident in the integrity of the Universal Service Fund, which supports E-Rate and other FCC-administered internet access programs. She believes that renewing the Affordable Connectivity Program would be the easiest way to address the need for internet access.
