FCC's Wi-Fi Hotspot Lending Program Faces Uncertain Future
Upcoming Chairman Carr, along with Commissioner Nathan Simington, previously dissented from the decision.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 2024 - Further iterations of the Federal Communications Commission's recent decision to allow E-Rate funding for Wi-Fi hotspot lending faces an uncertain future as the agency prepares for new leadership, experts said Wednesday during a Broadband Breakfast Live Online event.
The agency moved in July to allow its E-Rate program, which provides internet discounts for schools and libraries, to fund Wi-Fi hotspots for students and library patrons to check out and use off premise. The order received strong backing from education and library organizations, for example.
“The SHLB Coalition spearheaded a lot of this work to allow the E-Rate program to fund hotspots and wireless connectivity and devices,” said John Windhausen, executive director of the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition. “The comments that we received were overwhelmingly positive because of the urgent need to connect students and library patrons during the pandemic. Even the industry was supportive of our proposal.”
Amina Fazlullah
