New E-rate rules could reduce task gap

Key points:

Learning is mobile, but how can schools offer reliable high-speed Internet to students who need devices at home but lack connectivity?

In July, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the use of E-rate funds to lend Wi-Fi hotspots that support students, school staff, and library patrons without Internet access.

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The federal E-rate program offers discounts to help schools and libraries obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access. Over the years, the program has been modernized to focus support on bringing high-speed broadband to and within schools and libraries. This last action will help students gain access to educational resources that were previously out of reach and allow them to learn without limits.

“I think every library and every school library in this country should be able to lend out Wi-Fi hotspots to help keep their patrons and their children connected. It is 2024 in the United States. This should be our base. We can use the E-rate program to do that,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. in a statement.

“That's why today we're modernizing E-rate to ensure that schools and libraries across the country can lend out Wi-Fi hotspots to support high-speed Internet access in rural and urban America and throughout others. The time to do this is now. We don't need to go back; “We can move forward and make it possible for everyone to get the connections they need,” he added.

According an FCC announcementthe new sentence:

• Allow schools and libraries to use E-rate funds to lend Wi-Fi hotspots and support high-speed Internet access for students, school staff, and library users in rural and urban areas of the country.
• Adopt a budget mechanism that sets a limit on the amount of support an applicant can request for hotspots and Wi-Fi services over a three-year period. In the event that demand for E-rate support exceeds available funds in a given funding year, requests for eligible Category One and Category Two local services and equipment will be prioritized and funded before requests for outside services and equipment. of eligible facilities.
• Adopt numerous safeguards to protect the integrity of the E-rate program, including measures to ensure that supported Wi-Fi access points and services are in use, used for educational purposes, are not funded through other sources, and are properly documented for audit purposes. .
• Demand compliance with the Child Internet Protection Law.

“We commend the FCC for working to ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive in a connected world. “The approval of this initiative represents a forward-thinking approach to the E-rate program, aligning it with the realities of today’s educational landscape,” he said. John Harrington, CEO of Funds For Learning. “Learning extends outside the classroom or library, into homes, while on the go, and into all community spaces. “This measure allows schools and libraries to close the homework gap, providing students with the resources they need to succeed academically, regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographic location.”

Harrington added: “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vital role of connectivity in education, and this decision makes it possible for more students and library users to gain access to the internet. Reliable Internet access is critical to modern education, allowing students to fully participate in digital learning environments. This is a monumental step toward closing the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to educational resources for all. Funds For Learning is committed to supporting this expansion and will continue to advocate for policies that improve the effectiveness of the E-rate program.”

On June 6, the FCC adopted a three-year, $200 million school and library cybersecurity pilot program that will allow the FCC to obtain and analyze actionable data on which cybersecurity services and equipment would best help K-12 schools and libraries address growing cyber threats and attacks against their broadband networks.

Through the pilot, the FCC aims to learn how to improve schools' and libraries' defenses against sophisticated ransomware and cyberattacks that put students at risk and impede their learning.

The pilot will allow the FCC to collect the data needed to better understand if and how universal service funds could be used to support the cybersecurity needs of schools and libraries, and share lessons learned with our federal partners to jointly combat this growing problem.

Laura Ascione is the editorial director of eSchool Media. He graduated from the prestigious Philip Merrill School of Journalism at the University of Maryland.

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