Members of both the House and Senate continue to push for funding in future stimulus legislation to support at-home schooling during (and beyond) the COVID-19 crisis. At the forefront of this effort currently is the Emergency Educational Connections Act of 2020 which was recently introduced by Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) with promises of companion legislation by Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) and others. The proposed legislation would provide $2 billion in funding, authorizing the FCC to utilize those funds to support broadband connections, Internet access, and connected equipment (mobile hotspots, modems, routers, end-user devices, etc.) prioritized for students (or library patrons) who do not have residential access.
Unlike current E-rate funding through the Universal Service Fund (“USF”), the additional funding would be based on Congressional appropriations. Exactly how the funding would be used by the FCC is not specified. The bill sets a tight one-week timetable for the promulgation of implementing FCC regulations. Given this condensed timeframe, the FCC would most likely leverage the existing E-rate infrastructure modified to permit off-campus usage, an expanded Eligible Services List, and an expanded application window. Proposals to do just that — as well as to expand funding beyond the $2 billion dollar level — are being circulated within the E-rate community (e.g., see FCC filings by the Open Technology Institute and Funds For Learning).