FCC Expands E-Rate to Support Loaner WiFi Hotspots for Students

• By Rhea Kelly
• 07/18/24

The Federal Communications Commission has officially approved an expansion of the E-Rate program that will allow schools and libraries to utilize E-Rate resources to loan out WiFi hotspots to students, school staff, and library patrons who lack internet access at home. The goal: ensuring that everyone has the connectivity needed for a 21st century quality education, the FCC explained in a news announcement.

"It should be the standard practice that students or anyone who can't afford internet at home can check out a WiFi hotspot from their local library," said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, in a statement. "This update is how we'll help close the Homework Gap and support folks on the wrong side of the digital divide so they can fully participate in modern civic and commercial life."

The program approval comes with a few requirements, as detailed by the FCC:

• Adoption of a budget mechanism that sets a limit on the amount of support an applicant can request for WiFi hotspots and services over a three-year period;
• If demand for E-Rate supports exceeds available funding in a given year, eligible on-premises category one and category two equipment and service requests are to be prioritized and funded before eligible off-premises equipment and service requests;
• Adoption of safeguards to protect the integrity of the E-Rate program, including measures to ensure the supported WiFi hotspots and services are in use, are used for educational purposes, are not funded through other sources, and are properly documented for auditing purposes; and
• Compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act.

"We commend the FCC for working to ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive in a connected world," commented John Harrington, CEO of Funds for Learning, a consulting firm specializing in E-Rate funding. "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. Learning extends outside the classroom or library to homes, while on the go, and in every community space. This move empowers schools and libraries to bridge the homework gap, providing students with the resources they need to succeed academically, regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographical location."

"Until everyone has an affordable home internet connection, hotspots are a promising alternative in most communities — and America's libraries have proven success in lending them," noted American Library Association President Cindy Hohl. "Libraries are the go-to place for millions of people who need a connection to the internet and the technology to use it. Library hotspot lending programs bridge digital divides, closing the homework gap by equipping students to complete assignments and communicate with teachers, and enabling everyone — jobseekers, adult learners, and families — to connect with community services."