This week, Funds For Learning filed comments to the Federal Communications Commission’s Public Notice seeking input on the use of E-rate funds to support remote learning, as well as reply comments to the Commission’s inquiries regarding the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program.
In its comments regarding E-rate funds, FFL advocates for an “all of the above” approach to eligible services used to close the connectivity gap for K-12 students, minor modifications to the E-rate program’s competitive bidding rules to ensure that funds flow quickly, use of the existing E-rate discount methodology and Category Two framework for funding distribution, and making discounts retroactively available for expenses already incurred in Funding Year 2020. The reply comment deadline for the E-rate inquiry is February 23, 2021.
For the EBB program, FFL encourages the FCC to allow schools and school districts to act as agents for enrolling households in the program, making the benefit directly available to schools and school districts, prioritizing unconnected households, and to require agreement from subscribers to continue service once the program ends.
FFL comments to the E-rate homework gap Public Notice may be viewed here.
FFL comments to the Emergency Broadband Benefit Public Notice may be viewed here.
