Groups Asks FCC Not to Delete Wi-Fi Programs
The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and other groups urged FCC commissioners not to approve proposals circulated by Chairman Brendan Carr to zero out programs created under the Biden administration to fund Wi-Fi hot spots and Wi-Fi on school buses (see 2509030064). The filing, posted Wednesday in docket 21-31, was also signed by the American Library Association, Education and Libraries Networks Coalition and Homework Gap Coalition.
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The groups said overturning the programs “would negatively affect community members nationwide by cutting off access to critical connectivity resources -- namely those that enable students and library patrons to complete homework assignments or engage in services that define modern-day life.” On Tuesday, the FCC added a vote on the items to the Sept. 30 open meeting agenda.
Regarding Wi-Fi on school buses, the groups cited a program at Farmington Municipal Schools in New Mexico. The district added Wi-Fi to its fleet of 90 buses, which serve about 6,500 of its 11,000 students each day, the filing said. “While some students may have a 30 to 45 minute drive to their school, others have up to a two-hour drive (with an even longer commute -- up to three hours -- to get to after-school games).”
The groups said the hot-spot lending program plays a vital role in many communities. “Hotspots are a popular and vital service that public libraries across the country have offered for over a decade,” the filing said. For homeschool families, hot spots mean “they can join virtual teaching groups, download lesson plans, access enrichment materials, and connect to other homeschool networks. For local businesses, internet access is required for sales, communicating with customers and clients, and basic security.”