Policy and funding
FCC Expands E-Rate to Support Student Loaned WiFi Hotspots
The Federal Communications Commission has formally approved an expansion of the E-Rate program, allowing schools and libraries to use E-Rate resources to lend WiFi hotspots to students, school staff and library patrons who don’t have access to the internet at home. The goal, the FCC explained in a news release, is to give everyone the connectivity they need for a quality education in the 21st century.
“It should be standard practice for students and others who don’t have access to the internet at home to be able to borrow a Wi-Fi hotspot at their local library,” FCC Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. “This update is a way to close the homework divide and help those on the wrong side of the digital divide fully participate in modern social and commercial life.”
Approval of the program comes with several requirements detailed by the FCC.
- Adopting a budget mechanism that places limits on the amount of assistance that applicants can request for WiFi hotspots and services over a three-year period.
- If demand for E-Rate support exceeds available funding in a given year, eligible on-premise Category 1 and Category 2 equipment and services requests will be given priority for funding over eligible off-premise equipment and services requests.
- Adopting safeguards to protect the integrity of the E-Rate program, including measures to ensure that supported WiFi hotspots and services are in use, are used for instructional purposes, are not funded from other sources, and are properly documented for audit purposes.
- Compliance with Children’s Internet Protection Act.
“We applaud FCC for its commitment to ensuring all students have the opportunity to succeed in a connected world,” said John Harrington, CEO of Funds for Learning, a consulting firm that specializes in E-Rate fundraising. “The approval of this initiative is a forward-thinking approach to the E-Rate program that speaks to the realities of today’s education environment. Learning extends beyond the classroom and library and happens at home, on the move, and in any community space. This move will empower schools and libraries to close the homework gap and provide students with the resources they need to succeed academically, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographic location.”
“Until everyone has affordable home internet access, hotspots are a viable alternative in most communities, and America’s libraries are having success lending them out,” said Cindy Hall, president of the American Library Association. “Libraries are the go-to place for millions of people who need an internet connection and the technology to get there. Library hotspot lending programs help close the digital divide, filling the homework gap by enabling students to complete assignments and communicate with teachers, and connecting everyone — job seekers, adult learners, families — to community services.”
About the Author
Leah Kelly is editor-in-chief of Campus Technology, THE Journal and Spaces4Learning. She can be contacted at [email protected].
