ALA encourages next step in E-rate improvements

The American Library Association (ALA) participated in an E-rate press call moderated by the Federal Communications Commission, and was joined by several education and digital learning advocates.

More than 4 million people visit America’s public libraries each day, and high-capacity broadband and Wi-Fi-enabled connections are at the center of what our communities need to connect with a world of online resources.

“The pressure for high-capacity broadband in libraries grows every year, as more essential employment and government services move online and libraries add interactive and streaming multimedia. The needs are urgent, and the time for action is now. ALA sees the FCC’s efforts as a solid first step in reforms to immediately support investments in Wi-Fi and to simplify the E-rate program,” said American Library Association Washington Office executive director Emily Sheketoff. Virtually all libraries now offer free public Wi-Fi, and this use is accelerating rapidly. One Oregon library recently topped 1 million Wi-Fi sessions in one year. Many patrons bring one, two or even three devices, and the K-12 trend toward supplying students with tablets and laptops is dramatically impacting library networks after school bells ring. This Wi-Fi access depends on affordable, scalable high-capacity connections to the building.

“With more than half of libraries with speeds of less than 10Mbps, we have a long way to go before we can claim victory toward the 1 gigabit goal, and the FCC must also address this concern. This is a first, not last step, to supporting digital learning and digital opportunity for our students and communities,” Sheketoff added.