SHLB and Over 80 Organizations Urge House to Reject Repeal of E-Rate Hotspot Program

The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and more than 80 national and state organizations urged the House of Representatives to vote NO on S.J.Res.7/H.J.Res.33—Congressional Review Act resolutions that would overturn the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to allow E-Rate funding for wireless hotspot lending by schools and libraries, and bar future Commissions from funding hotspots. The letter warns that repealing the FCC’s E-Rate hotspot program would jeopardize internet access for millions of students, educators, library patrons, and other community members, particularly in rural and underserved areas, writing, "If this resolution becomes law, not only would the FCC have to reject currently pending requests for hotspots from schools and libraries across the nation, the FCC would be barred from ever reinstituting this program. In short, this resolution would prevent millions of students and library patrons across the country from obtaining internet access now and in the future."