On July 18, 2024, “The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to approve final rules to support the students, school staff, and library patrons around the country who find themselves on the wrong side of the digital and educational divide. Now, schools and libraries will be able to utilize E-Rate resources to loan out Wi-Fi hotspots which will provide internet access for those individuals without a reliable connection at home.” This was how the official FCC press release announcing significant updates to the E-Rate program read. These E-rate updates provide a wifi win for school and library stakeholders across the country.
What is E-Rate?
The E-Rate program is a government initiative, established in 1996, that provides schools and libraries with technology discounts. Most importantly, these discounts can apply to telecommunications services, internet access, and internal connections. E-Rate aims to make technology more affordable. By doing this it helps these institutions close the digital divide and ensure students and patrons have access to the tools necessary for success in an evolving technological market. From homework completion to job training, the E-Rate program is a vital resource for communities across the nation.
E-Rate Updates via the Report and Order
This latest “Report and Order” from the FCC provides additional avenues for schools and libraries to meet stakeholder needs. To sum up, here’s what the program enhancements include and an explanation of what they mean:
Resolution
“Allow schools and libraries to use E-Rate funding to loan out Wi-Fi hotspots and support high-speed internet access for students, school staff, and library patrons.”
What it means
Schools and libraries can now use E-Rate funding to purchase Wi-Fi hotspots. Schools and libraries can then loan these [items] to students, school staff, and library patrons. This will help to ensure that all stakeholders have access to high-speed internet, regardless of where they are located.
Resolution
“Adopt a budget mechanism that sets a limit on the amount of support that an applicant can request for Wi-Fi hotspots and services over a three-year period. If demand for E-Rate support exceeds available funding in a given funding year”:
- Prioritize eligible on-premises category one and category two equipment and service requests
- Fund these before eligible off-premises equipment and service requests
What it means
Schools and libraries will now have a limit on how much funding they can request for Wi-Fi hotspots and services over three years. This means they need to carefully plan their hotspot needs and budget accordingly.
If there’s not enough funding to cover all hotspot requests, schools and libraries will prioritize getting funding for on-premises equipment and services first, before getting funding for off-premises equipment and services like hotspots.
Resolution
“Adopt numerous safeguards to protect the integrity of the E-Rate program, including measures to ensure the supported Wi-Fi hotspots and services are in use, are used for educational purposes, are not funded through other sources, and are properly documented for auditing purposes.”
What it means
Schools and libraries will need to implement additional safeguards and record-keeping to ensure the proper use of E-Rate funded Wi-Fi hotspots and services. This includes:
- Monitoring usage. Schools and libraries must have systems in place to track hotspot and services usage.
- Verifying educational use. There must be processes to ensure the hotspots and services are used for educational purposes.
- Preventing duplicate funding. Schools and libraries must ensure they are not using other funds to pay for services already covered by E-Rate.
- Maintaining documentation. Organizations must keep detailed records for auditing purposes. This in turn will demonstrate compliance with E-Rate program rules.
These added requirements will protect the integrity of the E-Rate program and ensure that funds are used appropriately to benefit students and patrons.
How it Affects You
Whether you’re a school administrator or board member, library board member, or local government official, these enhancements help to provide opportunity to your constituents. By allowing E-Rate to be applied to WiFi hotspots, accessing the internet just became more financially feasible. This improved access will better serve communities. These E-Rate updates indeed provide a wifi win for students and patrons alike. Looking for assistance in understanding how to take advantage of E-Rate in your school or library? Reach out to PKA today and we’ll provide the expertise you need to make it all work.
