Petition to Congress Advocates for E-Rate Program Preservation
On October 21, the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) submitted a compelling petition to Congress, garnering signatures from 464 education and community leaders nationwide. This initiative emphasizes the necessity of safeguarding and enhancing the E-Rate program, which is pivotal for ensuring access to affordable, high-capacity broadband in educational settings.
This petition emerges as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) contemplates possible modifications to the E-Rate program, including proposals that could potentially limit or abolish it. Signatories express concern that any reduction or discontinuation of E-Rate support would impose significant financial burdens on schools and libraries, jeopardizing their ability to maintain access to essential broadband services.
“E-Rate is not merely about connecting classrooms to the internet. It is foundational infrastructure that schools depend on every day to facilitate the education of students, support educators, and engage communities,” stated Keith Krueger, the CEO of CoSN.
He emphasized, “As we challenge schools to equip students for a future increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence, diminishing the connectivity that underpins modern education would be a regressive step. It is imperative that Congress protects E-Rate, bolsters cybersecurity measures for K-12 networks, and ensures local and state authorities retain the autonomy to make technology and instructional choices that align with their students’ needs.”
The petition unites educational and community leaders from 35 states and the District of Columbia, reflecting a broad coalition of representatives from various school districts, educational organizations, and institutions serving diverse communities across the nation.
For nearly thirty years, the E-Rate program has been instrumental in providing schools and libraries with affordable, high-capacity broadband. Currently, this program supports digital learning initiatives, online assessments, student information systems, family communications, school safety measures, and access to vital educational resources. The petition underscores E-Rate as the most significant education broadband initiative in the United States, constituting the fifth-largest federal funding source for schools.
The coalition respectfully calls upon Congress to utilize its oversight function and urges the FCC to uphold E-Rate’s fundamental mission of advancing universal access to affordable broadband for educational institutions while enhancing cybersecurity protections for K-12 networks. It strongly advises against any initiatives that would weaken, restrict, or compromise this essential program.
For further details, the petition can be accessed at: View the E-Rate Petition.
Chief Editor of Quincy City Beat — Quincy, MA's independent investigative newspaper covering Greater Boston and the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts with fearless public accountability and free access for all readers.
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