On January 28, 2022, several stakeholders submitted an Ex Parte to the FCC urging the Commission to make revisions to the Emergency Connectivity Fund program and the E-rate program. One of the recommendations the groups proposed was that the FCC open a third filing window in the spring of 2022 to allocate the remaining $800 million available for additional support. They noted that, “…the new spike in COVID cases due to the new ‘omicron’ variant means that the need for broadband connectivity for students at home remains strong. …Opening a third funding window this spring would give schools and libraries the opportunity to obtain additional funding needed to continue engaging in online instruction to students and patrons in need. Further, some schools and libraries that were unfamiliar with the ECF program last year would have an opportunity to apply for ECF funding going forward.”
Other recommendations the stakeholders recommended included:
- Extend service delivery deadline to June 30, 2023
- Extend the gift rule to coincide with the extended service delivery deadline
- Reconsider record-keeping requirements with respect to library applicants
- Waive the cost allocation rule in the E-rate program
The full Ex Parte to the FCC can be viewed here
