FCC Votes to Consider Rule to End E-Rate: How You Can Advocate

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June 29, 2026

Author

Noelle Ellerson-Ng
Noelle Ellerson Ng

Chief Advocacy & Governance Officer, AASA, 萝卜AV视频

Last week the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a (NPRM) that raises serious concerns for the future of the E-Rate program. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr frames his proposal as a review of the program when, in reality, explores sweeping changes that would fundamentally reshape鈥攐r even dismantle鈥攖his critical source of connectivity for the nation鈥檚 schools and libraries. As written in a previous blog:

"The NPRM includes a handful of far-reaching, high-stakes proposals including: sunsetting of the program; restricting funding to rural schools, excluding PreK/Head Start, and penalizing or removing funding for CIPA compliance issues. The proposal includes questions on whether to requirements like screen time limits, expanded filtering (including social media bans), and mandatory digital literacy courses. The NPRM also explores a potential effort to redistribute funding in ways that could divide the education community, particularly by shifting resources away from non-rural districts. While expanding support for rural schools is an important goal, it should not come at the expense of other communities that also depend on E-Rate to meet basic connectivity needs. These proposals reflect a notable shift away from the FCC鈥檚 traditional focus on connectivity and into areas of education policy and practice that have long been governed at the state and local level."

NEXT STEPS: We were able to extend the comment and reply period for the NPRM. That means your advocacy now is more important than ever in helping the FCC and Congress understand how short-sighted and damaging these changes will be for schools. Here鈥檚 what you can do: 
  • 萝卜AV视频Legislative Advocacy Conference: Join us in DC NEXT WEEK for our annual legislative conference, which will include a panel session on E-Rate and talking points for the hill offices.
  • : 萝卜AV视频co-chairs the Education and Libraries Network Coalition (EdLiNC) who, along with the Schools Health Library Broadband (SHLB) coalition, is to protect E-Rate. Take a moment before the end of July to highlighting the proposed changes, our opposition, and why E-Rate matters to your district. 
  • File Comments with the FCC: In August, we will be launching a large scale call to action with step-by-step instructions for how to weigh-in directly with the FCC. What this space.  

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