Alaska House members ask FCC to preserve E-Rate school internet discounts

Twenty-one Alaska State House members asked the Federal Communications Commission to preserve E-Rate, the federal program that discounts school and library internet service, in a letter received Oct. 7.

The program matters doubly in Alaska. The state's own School Broadband Assistance Grant requires districts to qualify for an E-Rate discount first; the Department of Education and Early Development's grant page lists a successful E-Rate application as step one. "Alaska has made a significant state investment to improve school connectivity, but that investment is intended to leverage and complement E-Rate, not replace it," the letter said.

The Legislature created the grant in 2014 to help schools reach internet speeds of 10 megabits per second, then raised the target to 25 Mbps in 2020 and 100 Mbps in 2024. The letter cites about $19.2 million distributed to 23 districts in fiscal year 2026, helping 126 schools reach 100 Mbps. The department's fiscal 2027 round awarded $15.4 million to 20 districts and 125 schools.

The members argued that concerns about recreational screen time shouldn't cut E-Rate funding, since the same connections support instruction, specialized services, assessments and other educational opportunities. Low Earth orbit satellite service is improving options in some communities, they said, but doesn't settle questions of affordability or reliability.

They also backed FCC proposals on consultant oversight and conflicts of interest. "However, oversight should focus on preventing misuse of funds, not on reducing access," the letter said. They asked the commission to consider small rural districts' limited staff before adding procurement, contracting or reporting rules.

Speaker Bryce Edgmon and 20 other House members signed the letter, dated Oct. 2, on Alaska House Majority Coalition letterhead. Two of the signers, Reps. Louise Stutes and Chuck Kopp, are Republicans; the 19 House members who didn't sign are all Republicans. The letter says "The Alaska Legislature" submits the comment, though no senator signed it.

Four other Alaska filers have also commented: the Association of Alaska School Boards, the Alaska Council of School Administrators with the Alaska Superintendents Association, Alaska Power & Telephone and the City of Homer. Comments on the FCC's E-Rate review are due Tuesday, Oct. 13, with replies due Nov. 12.