The Senate has voted to eliminate a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule that allocated federal funds to support Wi-Fi hotspots usable outside of schools and libraries.
Originally introduced by former FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, the initiative utilized resources from the $2.6 billion federal E-Rate program to enable educational institutions and libraries to provide complimentary Wi-Fi hotspots for children and individuals lacking reliable internet access at home.
As highlighted by Policyband, prior to a successful procedural vote yesterday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) argued that the rule “contravenes the Communications Act, which explicitly restricts the use of these funds to classrooms and libraries.”
In a statement from last year, Rosenworcel contended that the law does not prohibit hotspot lending. Pointing to the challenges of remote learning exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, she asserted that although E-Rate had “been overwhelmingly successful in connecting schools and libraries,” modernization was necessary to allow these entities to “loan out Wi-Fi hotspots for high-speed internet access across rural and urban America alike.” She emphasized that this adaptation could be implemented “within the existing E-Rate budget.”
Under Chairman Brendan Carr, the FCC, which has been critical of the hotspot lending initiative, has significantly reduced its consumer protection efforts and aligned itself with the Trump administration’s approach to censorship. Republican members of Congress have sought to decrease subsidies aimed at enhancing U.S. internet access, including the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, citing concerns about cutting spending. According to a recent study reported by TechDirt in March, “the $7–$8 billion annual taxpayer expenditure of the program resulted in savings between $28.9 and $29.5 billion through broadened access to affordable internet and remote telehealth services.”
Following the vote, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, nominated by former President Joe Biden, expressed concern that this decision will worsen economic inequalities. She stated, “Those with adequate internet access are becoming increasingly divided from those without, and this decision threatens to widen that gap even further.”
