WASHINGTON, D.C. — Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV issued the following statement on updating and expanding high-speed broadband connections to schools and libraries through the E-Rate program. Today, President Obama called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to build next-generation broadband in
schools and libraries to give students access to the latest technology.

“I share the President’s enthusiasm for expanding high-speed broadband connections
to our schools and libraries and agree the FCC should update the successful E-Rate program to meet that goal.  At a recent oversight hearing of the FCC, I received public commitments from all members of the FCC to work with me to update and strengthen the E-Rate program. Today, I join the President and renew my call on the FCC to fund and adapt E-Rate to meet the needs of a data-driven society.

“In its almost two decades, the E-Rate program has fundamentally transformed
education in this country – we have connected our most remote schools and libraries to the world. E-Rate has enabled schoolchildren across this country to participate in the information society. But as impressive and important as the E-Rate program has been, basic internet connectivity is no longer sufficient to meet our 21st Century educational needs. It is time to create E-Rate 2.0.

“Within this decade, every school in America should have 1 Gigabit of connectivity. And, if every coffee shop in America can offer wireless connectivity, then surely every school in America should be able to offer it as well. We owe our children access to the transformative power of next-generation technology.” 

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