SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
EXPLORE +
  • About infoDOCKET
  • Academic Libraries on LJ
  • Research on LJ
  • News on LJ
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Libraries
    • Academic Libraries
    • Government Libraries
    • National Libraries
    • Public Libraries
  • Companies (Publishers/Vendors)
    • EBSCO
    • Elsevier
    • Ex Libris
    • Frontiers
    • Gale
    • PLOS
    • Scholastic
  • New Resources
    • Dashboards
    • Data Files
    • Digital Collections
    • Digital Preservation
    • Interactive Tools
    • Maps
    • Other
    • Podcasts
    • Productivity
  • New Research
    • Conference Presentations
    • Journal Articles
    • Lecture
    • New Issue
    • Reports
  • Topics
    • Archives & Special Collections
    • Associations & Organizations
    • Awards
    • Funding
    • Interviews
    • Jobs
    • Management & Leadership
    • News
    • Patrons & Users
    • Preservation
    • Profiles
    • Publishing
    • Roundup
    • Scholarly Communications
      • Open Access

May 10, 2021 by Gary Price

Final Rules Adopted: “FCC to Launch $7.17 Billion Connectivity Fund Program; New Program Provides Funding to Schools and Libraries Critical to Closing the Homework Gap”

May 10, 2021 by Gary Price

UPDATED May 11, 2021  ALA Prepares For New Emergency Connectivity Fund Implementation (via American Library Association)

—End Update–

From the Federal Communications Commission:

The Federal Communications Commission today unanimously adopted final rules to implement the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program. This $7.17 billion program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, will enable schools and libraries to purchase laptop and tablet computers, Wi-Fi hotspots, and broadband connectivity for students, school staff, and library patrons in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Far too often, students, teachers, and library patrons lack the access they need to broadband and connected devices. This need has become even more apparent during these unprecedented times,” said Jessica Rosenworcel, Acting Chairwoman of the FCC. “Between this Emergency Connectivity Fund Program and the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, we are investing more than $10 billion in American students and households. These investments will help more Americans access online education, healthcare, and employment resources. They will help close the Homework Gap for students nationwide and give so many more households the ability to connect, communicate, and more fully participate in modern life.”

The Report and Order adopted today establishes the rules and policies governing the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program. The new rules define eligible equipment and services, service locations, eligible uses, and reasonable support amounts for funding provided. It designates the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) as the program administrator with FCC oversight, and leverages the processes and structures used in the E-Rate program for the benefit of schools and libraries already familiar with the E-Rate program. It also adopts procedures to protect the limited funding from waste, fraud, and abuse.Recent estimates suggest there may be as many as 17 million children struggling without the broadband access they need for remote learning. The Acting Chairwoman has long made closing the Homework Gap a priority during her tenure at the Commission.

Direct to Source

See Also: Fact Sheet: The Emergency Broadband Benefit: How Does This Temporary Consumer Broadband & Computer Discount Work?

Direct to GetTheBroadband Website

Filed under: Associations and Organizations, Funding, Libraries, News, Patrons and Users

SHARE:

About Gary Price

Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area. He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Job Zone

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Infodocket Posts

Dr. Steve Sherry Selected as Acting Director, National Library of Medicine (NLM)

From NLM: NLM is excited to announce that long-time leader and innovator, Stephen Sherry, PhD, is now our Acting Director. Dr. Sherry has 25 years of experience performing research, education, ...

Judy Blume, James Patterson and Other Authors are Helping Pen America Open Florida Office, "To Counter Florida’s Surge...

Florida Judy Blume, James Patterson and Other Authors are Helping Pen America Open Florida Office, “To Counter Florida’s Surge in Book Bannings in Recent Years” (via AP) ||| Learn More: ...

Now Available to All Readers in Illinois: Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) Partners with the University of...

UPDATE: An Announcement From the University of Chicago is Also Available: UChicago Library Expands Access to Banned Books Amid National Debate Over Censorship From a DPLA Announcement: The Digital Public ...

Invitation to Host IFLA WLIC (World Library and Information Congress) 2024 in Dubai Withdrawn

Here’s the Full Text of the IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) Statement Released Today: IFLA has been informed of the decision to withdraw the invitation to hold ...

Report: Exploring the Experiences of Canadians Accessing Alternate Format Print Materials

From Statistics Canada: In Canada, the 6.2 million persons with disabilities often experience challenges related to accessibility in their daily lives. While persons with disabilities face unique experiences and challenges ...

New Report: "Assessment of the Library of Congress's Digital Strategy"

From the Office of the Inspector General, Library of Congress: The Library’s digital planning and execution activities have resulted in numerous accomplishments. Despite these achievements, more work remains to clearly ...

A New Open Science Indicators Dataset From PLOS; Yale University Selects Clarivate to Provide Their Next Library Services...

EDUCAUSE 2023 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report: Holistic Student Experience Edition Missouri Kansas City Public Library Introduces a New Logo (via KCPL) Public Library of Science (PLOS) A New Open Science Indicators ...

New Bill in New York State Assembly: re: Sale of Books Created with Generative AI

The bill linked below was posted on September 29, 2023. From the Summary: Requires online sellers of books created wholly or partially with the use of generative artificial intelligence to ...

A Banned Books Week Video Message From LeVar Burton re: Let Freedom Read Day on October 7, 2023

From the Video’s Description: Beloved reading advocate, writer, and television and film star LeVar Burton is leading this year’s Banned Books Week, which takes place October 1–7, 2023. He’s ready ...

PEN America, ALA, Children's Book Council, Leading Publishers, Teacher Groups, and Other Organizations Launch Letter-Writing Campaign to Oppose...

Here’s the Full Text of a Release From PEN America: For Banned Books Week 2023, PEN America and We Believe gathered a consortium of the nation’s leading publishers, teacher and ...

Academic Librarian Leans on Internet Archive for Access and Analysis; Op/Ed: CT Community College Libraries are Folding—Students Deserve...

Alabama Huntsville Library Disputes Alabama Political Reporter’s Evidence-Based Story on Relocating LGBTQ Books (via APR) Connecticut Op/Ed: CT Community College Libraries are Folding—Students Deserve Better (via CT Mirror) Dryad Dryad ...

Not Real News: An Associated Press Roundup of Untrue Stories Shared Widely on Social Media This Week

From the Associated Press: A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were ...

ADVERTISEMENT

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

Tweets by infoDOCKET

ADVERTISEMENT

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • Programs+
  • Design
  • Leadership
  • People
  • COVID-19
  • Advocacy
  • Opinion
  • INFOdocket
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Booklists
  • Prepub Alert
  • Book Pulse
  • Media
  • Readers' Advisory
  • Self-Published Books
  • Review Submissions
  • Review for LJ

Awards

  • Library of the Year
  • Librarian of the Year
  • Movers & Shakers 2022
  • Paralibrarian of the Year
  • Best Small Library
  • Marketer of the Year
  • All Awards Guidelines
  • Community Impact Prize

Resources

  • LJ Index/Star Libraries
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies

Events & PD

  • Online Courses
  • In-Person Events
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Submit Features/News
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Careers at MSI


© 2023 Library Journal. All rights reserved.


© 2022 Library Journal. All rights reserved.