Statement of FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel on the Digital Learning Equity Act

Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel of the Federal Communications Commission joined Rep Peter Welch (D-VT) at the Lyman C. Hunt Middle School in Burlington (VT) to discuss the introduction of the Digital Learning Equity Act in the US House of Representatives and the challenges students face doing their homework when they don’t have access to the Internet at home. The Digital Learning Equity Act, which was introduced by Rep Welch and Rep David McKinley (R-WV), would call for a national study on the Homework Gap and provide for pilot programs to extend access to digital learning opportunities for students when they are outside of the classroom.

Commissioner Rosenworcel said, "The Homework Gap is the cruelest part of the new digital divide. Today, too many students are unable to complete their school assignments because they do not have Internet access at home. This means they fall behind in the classroom -- and we all lose out when we have a generation ill-prepared to enter the digital economy. Thanks to Rep Welch and Rep McKinley for the good work they’ve done with the Digital Learning Equity Act, which puts the spotlight on the Homework Gap and ways to overcome it.”