FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has moved to end funding for two programs that used E-Rate funds to provide Wi‑Fi access for students, including on school buses and in libraries.
In a pair of circulated documents this month, Carr signaled a declaratory ruling that would overturn the 2023 decision funding Wi‑Fi hotspots on school buses, and an order to reconsider a 2024 decision funding hotspots for students and library patrons.
He said those decisions spent scarce taxpayer dollars on unsupervised screen time for kids, without adequately addressing attendant risks or showing how they advanced classroom or library goals.
Sen. Ted Cruz welcomed the move, stating it would protect taxpayers and empower parents to decide what their children access online, while criticizing the hotspot program as duplicative and unlawful.
FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez, the lone Democratic member, criticized the plan, noting millions rely on hotspots for homework and telehealth and warning the move could widen the gap in access to broadband.
The agency’s next open Commission meeting is listed for Sept. 30 on the FCC’s website.
Reported by Brad Randall for Broadband Communities.
