FCC Votes to Bolster E-Rate Support to Cover Wi-Fi Hot Spots
July 18, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
James Minichello
703-774-6953
jminichello@aasa.org
K-12 education groups applaud expansion to enhance greater internet connectivity for public schools and libraries nationwide
Alexandria, Va. – July 18, 2024 – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today voted in favor to expand its E-Rate program for Wi-Fi hotspots and wireless internet access services at a time when an increasing number of students, educators and administrators rely heavily on remote educational tools while online space becomes part of their classrooms.
This announcement is part of FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s broader Learn Without Limits initiative, a three-pronged proposal as it also calls for allocating E-Rate dollars to access Wi-Fi on buses and create a three-year, $200 million pilot program for cybersecurity.
“AASA applauds the FCC for its vote today to expand the E-Rate program for Wi-Fi hotspots and wireless internet access services. This is another step forward in an important cause long championed by FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, addressing the homework gap.”
“AASA applauds the FCC for its vote today to expand the E-Rate program for Wi-Fi hotspots and wireless internet access services,” said David R. Schuler, executive director, AASA. “This is another step forward in an important cause long championed by FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, addressing the homework gap. Today’s vote allows the E-Rate program to continue its important work in ensuring our nation’s schools and libraries are able to offer our 24-hour learners 24-7 access to broadband.”
The E-Rate program is one of the five largest streams of federal funding in our nation’s schools. Part of the FCC’s universal service program, E-Rate serves as a support mechanism that reaches back to 1934 and focuses on ensuring rural consumers had adorable phone service.
Supported by AASA since its inception, E-Rate was added in the 1996 reauthorization of the Telecommunications Act and designed to provide libraries and schools with access to affordable broadband, internet access services and internal WI-Fi use. E-Rate is nearly solely responsible for the nearly universal access that our nation’s students have in schools today.
Rosenworcel has spent her career advocating for and in support of the E-Rate program, including the 2014 modernization of the program which focused on ensuring students had access to broadband.
###
For additional information, contact Noelle Ellerson Ng, AASA associated executive director, advocacy and governance, at nellerson@aasa.org.
###
About AASA
AASA, The School Superintendents Association, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. AASA’s mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to equitable access for all students to the highest quality public education. For more information, visit www.aasa.org.
