FCC Seeks Public Input on Future of E-rate Program

Dive Brief:

• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has opened a public comment period on a proposed rule that considers modifications to, or even termination of, the federal E-rate program. The 30-year-old initiative offers discounted internet services to schools and libraries.
• E-rate accounted for $10.5 billion in federal funds to school districts between 2021 and 2025, making it the fifth-largest source of federal funding for schools, according to an analysis by E-rate advocates.
• The FCC's proposed rule, published in the Federal Register on Aug. 14, asks whether policy changes are needed in light of concerns about screen time in schools, or whether the program "should be limited or sunset" given "today's extensive connectivity rates." The public comment period closes Oct. 13.

Dive Insight:

The E-rate program was established in 1996 when former President Bill Clinton signed the bipartisan Telecommunications Act. A year earlier, only 8% of public school classrooms had internet access, according to National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data. By 2003, that figure had risen to 93% of public school classrooms, NCES found.

Nearly 25,000 entities—including districts, schools, consortiums, and libraries—received a total of $13.2 billion in E-rate funds between 2021 and 2025, per the advocates' analysis. Notably, the majority of those funds went to school districts.

In a statement released after the proposed rule's publication on Friday, the Education and Libraries Network Coalition (EdLiNC)—co-chaired by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, along with the American Library Association and the Bernstein Strategy Group—urged the FCC to focus its rulemaking on E-rate's core mission of providing affordable and reliable internet access to schools and libraries.

"The FCC should not be focused on whether E-Rate has fulfilled its mission and should be terminated, or which communities deserve access to it—the question is how to strengthen and modernize one of the nation's most successful education and connectivity programs," EdLiNC's co-chairs said.

The FCC approved its notice of proposed rulemaking on E-rate during a June 25 meeting. At that time, FCC Chair Brendan Carr said the notice would consider changes to E-rate as concerns mount over growing ed tech use in schools.

With some districts and communities pushing back on ed tech use, the FCC's proposed rule also asks whether schools should receive E-rate on the condition that they "provide parents with a meaningful opportunity to opt their children out of screen-based instruction or screen use during the school day."

However, E-rate advocates point out that the federal program only covers eligible internet services and equipment. It does not fund school devices or content—an issue that advocates say should be addressed at the state and local level.

"Questions about curriculum, instructional practice, or student behavior should not be used to undermine a proven program that helps schools and libraries maintain the networks modern education depends on," the EdLiNC co-chairs said.

AASA is set to host a live virtual town hall on the E-rate proposal on Sept. 9.