Digital Inclusion

Libraries and Schools Brace for FCC Cuts to Wi-Fi Programs

‘We don’t yet know the full extent of what this vote means for libraries and schools.’

Jericho Casper

Jericho Casper

— 2 min read
Libraries and Schools Brace for FCC Cuts to Wi-Fi Programs
Photo of Sam Helmick, President of the American Library Association, from Wikipedia.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2025 – A federal decision last week to end funding for off-campus Wi-Fi programs has left libraries and schools scrambling to cover the costs or shut programs down.

The Federal Communications Commission voted 2–1 Tuesday to eliminate E-Rate support for hotspot lending programs and Wi-Fi on school buses.

In Los Angeles County, the impact was immediate. The county library system said Thursday it will begin winding down its digital lending services following the FCC’s vote, noting that the program costs about $40,500 per month to maintain. Without federal support, the library said, that expense was unsustainable under its current budget.

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Digital Inclusion Anna Gomez Brendan Carr ALA Sam Helmick USAC Los Angeles Unified School District Los Angeles County Amina Fazlullah Common Sense Media

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