Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

ISTE Applauds FCC for Listening to Voice of Educators on E-Rate Modernization

  • 07/11/14

Action Includes Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making to Increase E-Rate Funding Cap

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE®) today issued the following statement from CEO Brian Lewis following the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) vote on the proposal to modernize the E-Rate program that subsidizes telecommunications and Internet costs for school districts:

“We applaud the Commission’s conviction to doing what’s right for education and launch a serious conversation about change the E-Rate truly does need -- more funding. Our community has spoken and the need for additional support is real. The Commission did the right thing today by issuing a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the E-Rate funding cap. We hope that a final decision on increasing the program’s annual funding cap will come quickly.

We also appreciate the Commission’s willingness to listen to educators and make meaningful improvements to this order. We support many of the practical steps that the Commission adopted today and its commitment to retain the E-Rate’s core principles and flexibility as the foundations of a modernized E-Rate program. We believe that the Commission’s efforts to promote WiFi and broadband in our nation’s classrooms and libraries, coupled with increased funding in the not-too-distant future, has the potential to provide all students with the connectivity necessary for learning in the digital age.

Finally, we extend our sincere thanks to Chairman Wheeler and his fellow Commissioners for their thoughtful actions as we continue this critical process. In addition, we recognize Commissioner Rosenworcel for her staunch support for educators and deep and abiding commitment to the E-Rate program. We look forward to sharing the perspectives and needs of school districts with all of the Commissioners as we move to this next, most crucial phase of E-Rate modernization.”

About ISTE
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE®) is the premier nonprofit organization serving educators and education leaders committed to empowering connected learners in a connected world. ISTE serves more than 100,000 education stakeholders throughout the world. For more information, visit iste.org. Connect with ISTE via Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Featured

  • Wisconsin District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The School District of La Crosse in La Crosse, Wis., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff of two existing schools, according to local news. Funding for the school comes from a $53-million referendum approved in 2024.

  • Higher Ed is Betting on New Buildings While Quietly Undermining Their Campuses — Here’s Why

    In this climate, the owner’s representative has changed from a delivery-focused advisor to a strategic campus partner. Institutions are increasingly relying on owner’s reps not just to manage, cope, schedule, and budget, but also help evaluate whether a project should proceed at all.

  • University of Oklahoma Announces New Campus Master Plan

    The University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., recently announced that it will soon launch a new, comprehensive Campus Master Plan to guide the campus’ physical development during the next decade, according to a news release.

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.