New America Urges FCC to Reject Petition That Would Harm Schools and Libraries

New America’s Open Technology Institute called on the Federal Communications Commission to reject a petition that would harm the E-Rate program, which helps schools and libraries access broadband service. Access Humboldt; National Consumer Law Center, on behalf of its low-income clients; Next Century Cities; Public Knowledge; and United Church of Christ, OC Inc. signed onto the comments as well. The petition, filed by three Texas carriers, calls for a sweeping change to the E-Rate rules that would prohibit E-Rate subsidies from going toward building or extending networks in areas where fiber already exists. This policy, if enacted, would favor monopolies and duopolies across the country and prevent competitors from entering the market, thereby making it easier for incumbent providers to raise prices for E-Rate services.

“The FCC should reject this petition," said OTI Policy Analyst Amir Nasr. "Millions of Americans, particularly students, rely on libraries and schools that receive E-Rate funding for broadband internet access. The program has been working well for years, but these carriers want a sweeping rule change without sufficient evidence of a problem. The E-Rate program should support projects that make broadband more affordable for schools and libraries, and cutting off funding to any area already covered by fiber is harmful to broadband affordability and competition.”