Remarks of FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai On E-Rate Before The Federal Communications Bar Association

As you know, the E-Rate program is part of the Universal Service Fund. It provides about two billion dollars each year for schools and libraries to connect to the Internet.

E-Rate has had its share of successes. But the program is seventeen years old and badly in need of an overhaul. Indeed, there’s a broad consensus on the need to modernize the program.

First, parents across this country understand that we can’t prepare children for the world of tomorrow in a classroom of yesterday. Second, improving educational opportunities for our nation’s kids shouldn’t be a partisan or ideological issue. My proposal has five main elements. First, we should streamline the program.

Second, we should target next-generation technologies.

Third, we should allocate E-Rate funds more fairly and predictably.

Fourth, we should increase transparency and accountability.

And fifth, we should be fiscally responsible.