Some Educators Urge FCC to Go Beyond Wi-Fi Hotspots

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2024 – Public school leaders and other education advocates give the Federal Communications Commission's Wi-Fi hotspots plan high marks, but they think the agency can still do better.

A coalition advocating for student connectivity, along with the Los Angeles Unified School District, has urged the FCC to expand its funding options for off-campus student internet access beyond Wi-Fi hotspots.  

Both parties petitioned the FCC to reconsider provisions of Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel’s E-Rate Hotspot Order. Adopted in July, the ruling expanded E-Rate support to include off-premises use of Wi-Fi hotspots for school and library patrons, but limited funding to hotspot devices that are bundled with commercial wireless service. Devices without such service or non-hotspot Wi-Fi-enabled devices were excluded from support.