FCC Moves to Limit Kids' and Library Patrons' Access to Broadband

""poor stewardship of scarce funds, and invited waste, fraud, and abuse.""

""in plain violation of the limits Congress imposed on the FCC's authority. Indeed, the prior FCC eliminated many of the safeguards that Congress placed on those programs. The FCC also failed to demonstrate that these funding decisions would advance legitimate classroom or library purposes.""

""Millions of students and seniors depend on hotspots and school bus Wi-Fi for homework and tele-health services. Now the FCC is moving to strip that connectivity away while doing nothing to make broadband more affordable. Their latest proposals will only widen the gap between those with access to modern-""

""libraries can be enablers that help bring the benefits of the internet to more people.""

FCC Chairman Brandan Carr introduced a declaratory ruling to reverse decisions allowing E-rate funding for school-bus Wi-Fi and circulated an order to end funding for hotspots used outside schools and libraries. The press release asserted that the COVID-era extension exceeded FCC authority and alleged poor stewardship that invited waste, fraud, and abuse. July 2024 expansion of the Universal Service Fund Schools and Libraries (E-rate) program had allowed the added flexibility. Carr argued the expansion violated congressional limits, removed safeguards, and failed to demonstrate advancement of legitimate classroom or library purposes. Proponents, including ALA deputy director Larra Clark, described libraries as enablers of internet access. Google testing of bus Wi-Fi in 2018 yielded positive results. Commissioner Anna M. Gomez warned that millions depend on bus and hotspot connectivity.

Read at Telecompetitor