E-Rate Bill Introduced in the U.S. House
On Tuesday, Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) introduced H.R. 6563, the Emergency Educational Connections Act of 2020. The bill would provide $2 billion in emergency funding to the E-Rate program to support distance learning, including Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and other technology that can bring telecommunications and internet services to students who are home due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Meng’s bill is in response to the immediate needs of the estimated 8.5 to 12 million students already facing the “homework gap” due to lack of access to needed technology that supports distance learning. Prioritization of the emergency funds would go to students, staff, and library patrons that do not have access to equipment and internet access at home.
To view H.R. 6563, go here.
Why This Matters to CEC Members
While a lack of technology has always been a concern to educators, closing that gap during school closures is a top priority. CEC has joined national education and technology groups and engaged in grassroots efforts to support additional funding for the E-Rate program to provide some much-needed equity to students who are currently unable to access distance learning due to a lack of technology.
To view a letter from stakeholders, including CEC, to Congress in support of emergency funding for the E-Rate program, go here.