SHLB Makes Case for Broad E-Rate Funding of School Hot Spots
Representatives of the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition spoke with FCC Wireline Bureau staff about the agency’s November proposal allowing schools and libraries to use E-rate support for off-premises Wi-Fi hot spots and wireless internet services (see 2311090028). Also…
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attending were officials from Colorado's Boulder Valley School District (BVSD). The district found a series of hot spots during the COVID-19 pandemic was difficult to administer and didn’t provide the connection students needed, said a filing posted Monday in docket 21-31. It next worked with a small local wireless ISP, LiveWire Networks, to build a network. “As of today, LiveWire operates a tower on almost every building across the BVSD,” SHLB said: More than 300 "… students are enrolled in the program. LiveWire operates and manages the network and performs installation and other services directly at the home.” Given the success of school-enabled networks like the Colorado district’s, “SHLB encourages the FCC to apply a broad, tech-neutral definition of ‘hotspots’ so that alternative types of network devices (like fixed wireless access points and subscriber modules) are eligible for E-rate funding,” the filing said. Last week, SHLB made similar points featuring a program at the East Moline (Ilinois) School District 37 (see 2403220030).