The quick FCC fix that would get more students online

As the pandemic forces students out of school, broadband deployment programs aren't going to move fast enough to help families in immediate need of better internet access. But Democrats at the Federal Communications Commission say the incoming Biden administration could put a dent in that digital divide with one fast policy change. The FCC's E-rate program provides up to $4 billion for broadband at schools, but Republican FCC chairman Ajit Pai has resisted modifying the program during the pandemic to provide help connecting students at home. "We have an educational crisis in this country, a digital equity crisis," said FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel. "And we need to use this program to fix the homework gap as fast as we can." Expect this to be a priority for the Biden FCC, especially if Commissioner Rosenworcel (who coined the term 'homework gap") leads it. Democrats may not have the majority at the start of the Biden administration as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has teed up a vote to confirm Trump nominee Nathan Simington soon. Simington's confirmation would deadlock the agency at 2-2 until the new administration's pick for another commissioner is confirmed. But a Democratic FCC head would still have leeway to make some changes to the program without a commission vote.