Faster Broadband for Schools and Libraries

[Commentary] Next month, the Federal Communications Commission will consider a proposal from its chairman, Tom Wheeler, that would raise taxes on phone lines by a modest 16 cents a month to make sure that every public school and library has reliable and fast Internet connections. The commissioners should vote yes. The chairman’s proposal is reasonable and justified. Schools and libraries are vital sources of information, especially for Americans who cannot afford to subscribe to high-quality Internet service at home. The increased tax for individual and business telephone users is modest. Increasing the E-Rate spending cap would cost the average American household, which has about three phone lines, including cellphones, an extra 48 cents a month. That is an investment worth making.