Commissioner Starks Joins Rep Veasey for STEAM School Tour Promoting Student Connectivity

Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks joined Rep Marc Veasey (D-TX) at Lady Bird Johnson Middle School to discuss the important role of student connectivity and the FCC’s efforts to expand internet access. Established in 1996, the FCC’S E-Rate program helps schools and libraries to obtain broadband. The FCC has recently taken steps to modernize this program to ensure it addresses the changing connectivity needs of students. The expiration of the Affordable Connectivity Program, a monthly subsidy to help pay for internet service for 23 million households, has had a significant impact on students of which over 35 percent of the enrolled households reported using their ACP service to attend school or do homework. Commissioner Starks, Rep Veasey, and Lisa Castillo, Chief Learning Officer for Irving Independent School District led a press conference to discuss the importance of broadband access and the tools available to families to stay connected to the internet.