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ALEXANDRIA, VA — The (EdLiNC)—co-chaired by AASA, Âܲ·AVÊÓƵ; the ; and —today reaffirmed its strong support for the E-Rate program and called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure its ongoing rulemaking remains focused on the program's core purpose: providing affordable, reliable connectivity for schools and libraries across the nation. 

For nearly 30 years, E-Rate has helped schools and libraries obtain the broadband services and network infrastructure necessary to support teaching and learning, school operations, and community access to information. E-Rate was established to support connectivity, and any review of the program should remain grounded in that mission. 

As the , EdLiNC welcomes the opportunity for stakeholders to provide meaningful feedback on the many questions raised in the proceeding.  

STATEMENT FROM EdLiNC CO-CHAIRS 

"The FCC has both the authority and responsibility to oversee E-Rate, and EdLiNC welcomes a thoughtful, fact-based review of the program. 

E-Rate was established by Congress for a specific purpose - to ensure affordable connectivity for schools and libraries, and that mission must remain the focus of this proceeding. For nearly three decades, E-Rate has been successful in connecting students, educators, and library patrons in rural, suburban, and urban communities alike. 

Questions about curriculum, instructional practice, or student behavior should not be used to undermine a proven program that helps schools and libraries maintain the networks modern education depends on. 

The FCC should not be focused on whether E-Rate has fulfilled its mission and should be terminated, or which communities deserve access to it - the question is how to strengthen and modernize one of the nation's most successful education and connectivity programs. 

Any proposal that limits E-Rate to certain communities or redirects it from its core mission would leave students behind and undermine decades of bipartisan progress. EdLiNC is prepared to fight for a strong, stable E-Rate program that serves every community and every student who depends on it."