"We cannot risk disconnecting our children and our communities from the future"

Today, the Federal Communications Commission launched a rulemaking proceeding seeking to reduce or even eliminate the E-Rate​, the program that has, for 30 years, ensured that schools and libraries can afford telecommunications services. The following statement may be attributed to Benton Institute for Broadband & Society Executive Director Revati Prasad:

“The FCC’s Schools and Libraries Program is widely recognized as the most successful federal initiative to close the digital divide. E-Rate transformed internet access for over 100,000 schools and 11,000 libraries nationwide, connecting millions of students and library patrons to educational opportunities, government services, information, healthcare, and much more. At a time when our economy and society are increasingly moving online, it is unfathomable that FCC Chairman Brendan Carr would suggest terminating or scaling back a program that nearly every community in the U.S. relies upon. We cannot risk disconnecting our children and our communities from the future.”

The Benton Institute for Broadband & Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all people in the U.S. have access to competitive, High-Performance Broadband regardless of where they live or who they are. We believe communication policy - rooted in the values of access, equity, and diversity - has the power to deliver new opportunities and strengthen communities.

For subscribe/unsubscribe info, please email headlinesATbentonDOTorg

Kevin Taglang
Executive Editor, Communications-related Headlines
Benton Institute
for Broadband & Society
1041 Ridge Rd, Unit 214
Wilmette, IL 60091
847-220-4531
headlines AT benton DOT org

Share this edition:

Broadband Delivers Opportunities and Strengthens Communities