Democratic policymakers call for narrowing digital divide to help students during pandemic

Ensuring all US households have high-speed internet will help provide similar education opportunities to students at different income levels, particularly during the pandemic, Democratic policymakers said. “Education justice involves giving everybody the same access to information,” said Rep Donna Shalala (D-FL). Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said, “We need a national policy of 100 percent of our households online,” she said. “No individual, household, or community is going to have a fair shot at success in the 21st century without it.” Commissioner Rosenworcel touted the E-Rate program, which provides discounts for telecommunications services, internet access and connections for low-income schools and libraries, and criticized the Trump administration for what she called a lack of ambition to get underprivileged children connected through FCC programs.