Comments on FCC review of E-Rate internet subsidy due Oct. 13

Alaska libraries and schools have until Oct. 13 to comment on a federal review that could shrink or end E-Rate, which discounts their internet bills 20% to 90%. Education groups say more than $200 million a year is at stake for Alaska schools. The Alaska State Library flagged the deadline in Wednesday's Library Development News.

The FCC opened the review in June to test whether the $3 billion-a-year program still matches Congress's intent. Comments in dockets 26-133, 13-184, 21-93 and 21-455 go through the Electronic Comment Filing System. E-Rate covers connections, wiring and Wi-Fi, not devices or apps, CoSN chair Stacy Hawthorne wrote July 30.

A 2022 FCC order made tribal libraries eligible for the program. More than 400 Alaska Native tribes and corporations can now establish computer centers under that rule.

The Association of Alaska School Boards and the Alaska Superintendents Association oppose narrowing E-Rate. A 2005 GAO report had urged stronger FCC oversight after finding fraud in the program. Reply comments are due Nov. 12.