With its latest round of $34 million in Emergency Connectivity Program (ECP) funding, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will help 80,000 students nationwide access affordable, high-speed internet.
“As we start the new year, we continue our work to make sure kids have the digital tools they need for after-school homework and connecting with teachers,” said FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel. “Today’s funding announcement brings us closer to the goal of closing the Homework Gap.”
As part of the ECP, which provides digital services for students in communities across the country, the FCC has invested $6.5 billion in schools and libraries. The latest round of funding supports applications from the FCC’s third application window and will benefit students in Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, and Washington. The FCC confirmed that the funding will support more than 250 schools, 15 libraries, and 2 consortia.
ECP funding can be used to support off-campus learning, such as nightly homework, to ensure students across the country have the necessary support to keep up with their education. To date, the FCC says the program has provided support to approximately 10,000 schools, 1,000 libraries, and 100 consortia, providing over 12 million connected devices and over 8 million broadband connections.
