U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:
On behalf of our 3 million members and the 50 million students they serve, we urge you to VOTE NO on S.J. Res. 7, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn the E-Rate hotspot program administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Votes on this issue may be scored in NEA’s report card for the 119th Congress.
Under the FCC’s hotspot program, schools and libraries can obtain E-Rate funding to provide wireless internet hotspot devices and service to students, school staff, and library patrons. The program includes filtering and blocking to ensure student safety and prevent exposure to inappropriate materials.
The FCC can modify the hotspot program as needed, so S.J. Res. 7 is unnecessary. Moreover, it would permanently block the use of E-Rate funds for off-campus hotspots, no matter how urgent the need.
Today’s students—our nation’s future leaders and workforce—need reliable internet access to complete homework, undertake research, contact teachers, and apply for college or jobs. Those living in rural areas and low-income households are most likely to lack reliable internet access, and therefore most likely to suffer from overturning the hotspot program.
For all these reasons, we urge you to VOTE NO on S.J. Res.7.
Sincerely,
Marc Egan
Director of Government Relations
National Education Association
