Senators Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Tackle Homework Gap, Provide Wi-Fi on School Buses

Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced bipartisan legislation to provide E-Rate Support for School Bus Wi-Fi to help close the homework gap while students travel on their daily school bus routes. The legislation expands eligibility for the Federal Communications Commission E-Rate program to reimburse schools that equip school buses with Wi-Fi technology.  According to the FCC, one in three households lacks broadband access, and a December study estimated that nearly 17 million students are stuck in the homework gap without internet access at home to complete their school assignments. The COVID-19 pandemic brought the digital divide into stark contrast, and school districts turned to other funding to provide Wi-Fi hot-spots on school buses and parked them throughout communities. The bill is also co-sponsored by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AR). Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Representative Peter Welch (D-VT). (S. 741 | H.R. 1673)