9 Million Students Lack Home Internet for Remote Learning

More than 9 million students still don’t have the high-speed home Internet required for online learning. One hopes the recent attention on the home Internet digital divide will be a call to action for our government and society that results in real change. But given that we can’t look to the telecom industry to solve this problem, what can be done?

• Leverage E-rate. The current Republican-controlled Federal Communications Commission has emergency power options it can deploy for using the federal E-rate funds it oversees to help meet students’ remote learning needs. But whether it will choose to do so is currently an open question.
• Provide municipal broadband for all residents.
• Undo Restrictive Legislation: 23 states have enacted laws that prevent well-intentioned municipalities from offering free or low-cost broadband to their residents. 
• Address the needs of rural and tribal areas. 
• Recognize high-speed Internet as a necessary public utility.