AFSA is calling on the Federal Communications Commission to preserve and strengthen the federal E-Rate program as the agency considers changes that could dramatically reshape or restrict it.
AFSA’s General Executive Board passed a resolution this weekend reaffirming the union’s longtime support for E-Rate and declaring reliable broadband basic school infrastructure that schools depend on for teaching, safety, communications and daily operations.
“Reliable broadband is no longer optional for America’s schools. It is basic infrastructure,” said AFSA President Mark Cannizzaro. “Schools simply cannot operate without it.”
For nearly three decades, E-Rate has helped schools and libraries afford broadband, Wi-Fi and other connectivity services. The program played a major role in moving public schools from limited internet access in the late 1990s to nearly universal classroom connectivity today. But the internet’s role in schools has changed significantly since E-Rate began.
Schools now rely on connectivity for far more than classroom instruction. Student information and attendance systems need it. So do school security systems, transportation, building management, nutrition programs, communications with families and many other parts of daily school operations.
Recognizing the essential role connectivity now plays in nearly every aspect of public education and in helping school leaders create positive learning environments, AFSA is calling for E-Rate to be strengthened and modernized rather than eliminated or unnecessarily restricted.
AFSA has been a longtime advocate for E-Rate. The union has worked with national education, library and broadband organizations to support strong and accessible funding and preserve the program.
The latest action comes as the FCC takes a broad look at E-Rate and its future. Among the questions under consideration are whether the program should be curtailed, limited to certain communities or eventually ended. The proceeding also raises questions about whether E-Rate participation should be tied to federal requirements concerning students’ use of technology or screen time.
AFSA says schools across the country should continue to have access to E-Rate. “Taking away or dramatically reducing E-Rate doesn’t take away a school’s need for broadband,” Cannizzaro said. “It simply shifts the cost back to school districts and forces them to find the money somewhere else. At a time when school budgets are already under tremendous pressure, that can mean taking resources away from other priorities.”
Schools and libraries receive over $2 billion a year in E-Rate support. If that money disappeared or was significantly reduced, districts would still have to pay for broadband and network infrastructure. Those costs could put additional pressure on budgets for staffing, academic programs, professional development and student services.
AFSA also is pushing back against tying E-Rate funding to federally imposed rules on student screen time.
The union says questions about how technology is used in classrooms are important, but those decisions should be made by educators, school administrators, school boards, parents and guardians, and state and local authorities based on the needs of their students and communities.
“We should absolutely be talking about how technology is used in our schools and what is appropriate for students,” Cannizzaro said. “But that is a different question from whether a school has the infrastructure it needs to function. We should not put school leaders in the position of choosing between essential connectivity and locally determined educational decisions.”
AFSA is not arguing that E-Rate should remain unchanged. Its resolution supports efforts to improve the program’s efficiency, accountability, affordability and administration. But the union says reforms should make E-Rate work better, not make it harder for schools and libraries to participate.
AFSA will send the resolution to the FCC and share it with its state and local affiliates and other education and labor organizations. The union also is encouraging its members and affiliates to make their voices heard as the FCC considers the future of the program.
