By Charles Sosnik
E-rate could help close the home connectivity gap if Congress and the FCC act together
Responses to the Learning Counsel’s national survey reveal a pressing concern: many students still lack reliable internet access at home. The survey asks schools and districts across the country about budgets, policy pressures, technology decisions, and obstacles to teaching and learning. During the COVID-19 crisis, the response rate increased substantially, and one of the most urgent issues cited by educators is connecting learners outside of school buildings.
Funds for Learning, led by CEO John Harrington, is one of the organizations the Learning Counsel consults for current data on home connectivity. Since 1998, Funds for Learning has worked with schools and libraries seeking E-rate funding for internet access. Harrington argues that, with coordinated action from Congress and the FCC, the established E-rate program could provide immediate relief for students who lack internet and devices for remote learning.
The E-rate program, administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), offers eligible schools and libraries discounts on telecommunications, internet access, internal network connections, managed broadband services, and basic maintenance. Discount levels range from 20 to 90 percent and are determined by poverty levels and rural status. While recipients must pay a share of service costs, E-rate funding can significantly lower the financial barriers to expanding connectivity.
What Congress can do
- Act quickly to authorize federal E-rate resources specifically aimed at supporting remote learning, recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic has prolonged the need for off-campus connectivity.
- Provide targeted funding—Harrington has proposed a $5.25 billion allocation to expand Category 2 E-rate support to address off-campus internet access, connected learning devices, and network cybersecurity.
- Coordinate with the FCC to remove or modify rules that prohibit E-rate support for off-campus learning, allowing funds to follow students to their homes.
What the FCC/E-rate program can change
- Adjust existing regulations to permit Category 2 funding for end-user devices and off-campus connectivity so schools can support students at home.
- Waive or shorten the 28-day competitive bidding period during declared emergencies and allow local emergency procurement processes to take precedence.
- Permit late submission of Fiscal Year 2020 Category 2 requests through an extended deadline to ensure schools can apply for needed resources.
- Use existing E-rate authorities to accelerate support, including removing the on-campus requirement for internet services, amending the Category 2 eligible services list, and directing USAC to apply minimum processing standards to speed approvals.
- Consider increasing FY2020 Category 2 budgets substantially to meet the surge in demand.
Why E-rate is a practical option now
- E-rate is a proven program with billions processed and established procedures for distributing funds.
- Its mission aligns with schools’ obligation to provide equitable access to education, making it an appropriate vehicle for expanding remote learning resources.
- Discounts are distributed on a sliding scale, providing greater support to the communities that need it most.
- The existing Category 2 application process enables schools and libraries to standardize technology purchases and select solutions appropriate to local needs rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Because many schools and districts already understand E-rate rules and processes, the program can move quickly—applications and approvals can be processed faster than establishing a new funding mechanism from scratch.
- Existing oversight in the E-rate program helps protect against waste, fraud, and abuse, preserving public trust while scaling support for home connectivity.
There are encouraging signs: E-rate applications surged in Funding Year 2020. According to Harrington, the filing window recorded a historic number of sites requesting support—higher than any previous year for both Category One and Category Two applications. A rapid first funding wave followed the filing window, awarding hundreds of millions of dollars to thousands of applicants in record time, demonstrating the program’s capacity to respond at scale.
Still, internet access alone does not solve the full problem. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics show that device availability is another major barrier. An estimated 17 percent of school-aged youth live in households without a device suitable for online learning. More than 11 million students do not have a device for remote instruction, and many households must share a single device among siblings and parents who may also be working from home.
About Funds for Learning
Funds for Learning® is a professional services firm that specializes in the federal E-rate program. The organization provides consulting and compliance support to help schools and libraries prepare applications, understand rules, and secure available funding for internet access and internal network needs.
About the Learning Counsel’s National Survey
The Learning Counsel’s annual National Survey evaluates the state of digital transition in K–12 education. Now in its seventh year, the survey typically receives responses from hundreds of districts and examines a wide range of topics, including barriers to digital transition, social-emotional concerns, staffing and recruitment, automation and workflow, infrastructure such as 5G and networks, security, analytics, and strategic execution. The results inform a key findings report that helps districts plan next steps for technology and instructional models.
About the author
Charles Sosnik is an education journalist and editor who serves as Editor in Chief at the Learning Counsel. An EP3 Education Fellow, he brings deep connections in the education community and contributes regularly to leading education publications. He draws on years of editorial experience to highlight the realities and potential of digital transition in schools.