National Education and Advocacy Organizations Oppose FCC Decision to Eliminate Funding for Wi-Fi
Joint statement from: All4Ed, CoSN—The Consortium for School Networking, EdTrust, National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Charter Collaborative, National Education Association, National Parents Union, and Southern Education Foundation
Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Contact: Enrique A. Chaurand
Email: echaurand@all4ed.org
Washington, D.C. – The above coalition of national education and advocacy organizations issued the following joint statement in strong opposition to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to eliminate funding for Wi-Fi hotspots and school bus connectivity through the E-Rate program.
“We strongly oppose today’s actions by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), reversing its policies supporting Wi-Fi hotspots and Wi-Fi on school buses through the E-Rate program. These policies help to narrow the “Homework Gap” and ensure learners have the connectivity they need to succeed, regardless of income, geography, or background.
“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the consequences of inequitable internet access. Nearly 16.9 million children lacked the high-speed home internet needed to engage in learning, with one in three students of color and two in five rural students disproportionately affected. In response, Congress created the $7 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) through the American Rescue Plan Act, and the FCC implemented it quickly and effectively. Applicants requested more than $9.3 billion, and the program supported over 13.5 million connected devices and 8 million broadband connections, reaching approximately 18 million students, or nearly one-third of all U.S. K-12 students. This demonstrates the FCC’s unique capacity to meet urgent home access needs at scale.
“Unfortunately, ECF funding has ended, making E-Rate’s funding for Wi-Fi hotspots and Wi-Fi on school buses critical for learners and communities. Rolling back these policies will impose unnecessary costs and confusion on schools, libraries, and families.
“Finally, it is deeply unfair for the FCC to advance this reversal without providing educators, families, and communities an opportunity to voice their views. The FCC’s standard practice has been to release draft items weeks in advance, allowing meaningful public comment. Departing from this transparent process on an issue of such importance only compounds the harm.
“Reliable internet access is vital for learning in the 21st century. Schools and libraries have stepped up to bridge gaps in access, but they cannot shoulder this burden alone. By maintaining support for Wi-Fi hotspots and Wi-Fi on school buses, the FCC can uphold its mission to ensure universal service and keep millions of students and families connected to opportunity. We respectfully urge you to protect these programs and preserve the progress our nation has made in closing the Homework Gap.”
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