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FCC Allocates Over $1.2 Billion to Close the Homework Gap
September 24, 2021 by Victoria Turner
The Federal Communications Commission is allocating over $1.2 billion in the first round of funding of the $7.17 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund Program with the aim of connecting more than 3.6 million students across the U.S., according to a release today.
Seeking to close the homework gap between students with connectivity and those without, this first funding wave will provide students, school staff and libraries with 774,115 high-speed broadband connections and over 3 million devices for 3,040 schools, 260 libraries and 24 consortia.
This is particularly important in a time when a reliable internet connection is imperative for students to be able to do their homework or access remote learning during the pandemic. Current FCC leadership is touting the over $10 billion investment to bring connectivity to all students and households when coupling the ECF program with the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.
The second application window will open up from Sept. 24 through Oct. 13 for equipment and services – WiFi hotspots, modems, routers and broadband connections – received or delivered between July 1 this year through June 30, 2022.
More information on the ECF program is available here.
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