FCC Chairman Seeks Big Increase in E-Rate

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler is seeking a significant increase in the E-rate program, which funds broadband connections for the nation’s schools and libraries. A draft order being circulated for consideration by the FCC would increase E-Rate’s funding by $1.5 billion to $3.9 billion by raising taxes on telephone bills and phasing down support for legacy services.

The FCC estimates 63% of public schools – over 40 million students – don’t have broadband connections to the building capable of taking advantage of modern digital learning.  In addition, 45% of school districts lack sufficient Wi-Fi capacity to move to one-to-one student-to-device deployments and half of all public libraries report connections of less than 10 Mbps (70% of rural libraries).

http://www.fcc.gov/blog/taking-next-step-e-rate-modernization

Statement from Commissioner Pai Statement in opposition

http://www.fcc.gov/document/commissioner-pai-statement-telephone-tax-increase-172