E-Rate, formerly Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund, is managed under the Federal Communications Commission and the agency is mulling modernization of the service to benefit U.S. students.
The program allows for discounts on Internet connectivity and telecommunications for schools and other education institutions.
Students may see the benefits as soon as this year, according to a recent report. Julius Genachowski and Jim Coulter, who have played roles in education and communication adminstration and regulation, provided their analysis of the situation, for which they advocate bipartisan and national support for the E-Rate program.
The goal, they say, is to deploy more broadband Internet connectivity in American schools. E-Rate reportedly dates back 18 years, and was an effort to help schools and libraries pay for these services. Genachowski and Coulter say it's time to act now, despite a debate brewing over how to reform the program. Bipartisan support is there, but advocates want to move on it.
"It is time to cut through the debate and act," they wrote in an opinion piece
The proposed reformation would direct about $2 billion out of reserves and into more Wi-Fi in classrooms and other upgrades for schools and libraries. The FCC's move, they say, would have a positive impact on 6 million students this year, and tens of millions more students in coming years.
Others, however, have a more cautionary approach. Two senators and co-authors of the E-Rate subsidy program warned FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler not to move too much on the project if it means gutting basic connectivity. Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) want the Wi-Fi initiative to be a two-year test phase instead.
The senators believe the initiative should be more carefully planned in case nonbroadband services are still needed by institutions. They had other warnings as well, including a resistance to basing funding formulas on per-square-foot or per-student calculations. The reforms need to keep balance and shouldn't negatively affect the limited funding that nonbroadband services are currently getting, they say.
Some are concerned that rural schools may get the short end of the stick as compared with urban schools.
It was recently reported that Wheeler may not have all the votes needed to move on reforms anyway. He reportedly was trying desperately to garner three more votes to gain approval. Republican FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai ended negotiations with Wheeler amid the above concerns. Pai may believe that some of the aspects are too radical a shift to be successful and safe.
An FCC spokesperson explained the situation from Wheeler's perspective.
"His proposal will increase Wi-Fi funding for rural schools by 75 percent and urban schools by 60 percent. Going forward, Chairman Wheeler will assess whether the long-term funding of the program meets the demand of schools and libraries for high-speed Internet access."
Democrats could be won over by changes, but right now the plan seems to be stalled.
