Schools/Universities

Advocates for the E-Rate program are urging the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider and revise a notice of proposed rulemaking that poses questions and seeks comment on that program's administration, continuation and future. The FCC is scheduled to vote on the proposal at its monthly open meeting on June 25.

Los Angeles Unified School District will ban classroom screen time before second grade and has enacted limited use for older students, under a pioneering policy approved by the school board that reflects growing backlash from parents and educators who are concerned about an over-reliance on computers and technology in K-12 learning. Grassroots coalitions have pushed for limits in California and nationwide as parents have become alarmed over how digital activities are replacing hands-on learning and peer interaction.

The Federal Communications Commission's Office of Managing Director announced that the proposed universal service contribution factor for the third quarter of 2026 will be 0.388 or 38.8 percent. Contributions to the federal universal service support mechanisms are determined using a quarterly contribution factor calculated by the FCC.

I am a big fan of technology. I’ve blissfully given over my spatial reasoning to Google Maps. I use artificial intelligence to chase down articles, do research, fix my grammar mistakes and whip up last-minute school-night recipes. But I’ve recently drawn a sharp line in the sand: no AI for writing. I’m not talking about expense reports or routine emails. I mean actual writing, and the creative brainstorming that precedes it to explore different perspectives or develop novel insights.

The Federal Communications Commission released a draft proposal that should alarm schools and libraries around the country. Tucked inside a long document is a direct question: should the E-Rate program be “limited or sunset”? When E-Rate began in the late 1990s, most schools and libraries had little or no internet access.

A broadband expansion project in Beauregard Parish adds to the growing number of Louisiana communities gaining access to reliable, high-speed internet, advancing the state's goal of full connectivity.

Louisiana state and local leaders joined ConnectLA and Optimum to announce the completion of a broadband expansion project in Natchitoches Parish, bringing dependable access to hundreds of locations across the parish. The expansion in Natchitoches Parish brings broadband access to 171 households and 24 businesses, expanding digital infrastructure in communities that previously lacked dependable connectivity. This project was delivered by Optimum and funded through the Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities 1.0 program, administered

On June 4, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission circulated a combined Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that could fundamentally reshape the E-Rate program—the federal Universal Service Fund (USF) program that has subsidized telecommunications and internet access for schools and libraries since 1997.

I welcome the Federal Communications Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on reforms to the E-Rate program to better protect children, including by addressing excessive screen time in schools. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration was grateful for the opportunity to work closely with the FCC on this important effort. In December 2025, NTIA convened a public listening session on the drivers and consequences of excessive screen use in schools, bringing together parents, educators, and child development experts from across the country.

E-Rate has been, and continues to be, a critical funding source for schools and libraries and for the rural and urban communities they serve. At its core, E-Rate ensures that every student, whether from a wealthy or an underserved community, has the opportunity to learn and flourish at school and beyond. It also provides the high-speed connectivity that keeps core school and library operations running, including security systems, student transportation, HVAC controls, and student information systems.