51萝莉

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. 鈥� July 18, 2024 鈥� 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鈥檚 broader 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.

鈥�51萝莉 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.鈥�

鈥�51萝莉 applauds the FCC for its vote today to expand the E-Rate program for Wi-Fi hotspots and wireless internet access services,鈥� said David R. Schuler, executive director, 51萝莉. 鈥淭his is another step forward in an important cause long championed by FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, addressing the homework gap. Today鈥檚 vote allows the E-Rate program to continue its important work in ensuring our nation鈥檚 schools and libraries are able to offer our 24-hour learners 24-7 access to broadband.鈥�

The program is one of the five largest streams of federal funding in our nation鈥檚 schools. Part of the FCC鈥檚 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 51萝莉 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鈥檚 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.

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For additional information, contact Noelle Ellerson Ng, 51萝莉 associated executive director, advocacy and governance, at nellerson@aasa.org.

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51萝莉
51萝莉, 51萝莉, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. 51萝莉鈥檚 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.