The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that it is committing an additional $37 million in the 13th wave of funding for the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) program.
With this latest round of funding, the FCC has now committed nearly $4.8 billion in funding and has connected more than 12.5 million students with broadband connections and equipment. The latest round of funding supports over 170 schools, 30 libraries, and four consortia across the country.
The FCC also announced it will open a third filing window from April 28 to May 13 for eligible equipment and services to be delivered or received in the upcoming school year.
“This program has opened doors for thousands of students who lacked connectivity to get the tools they need to connect with their teachers and classmates,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Reliable and affordable access to broadband is a must for everyone, and especially for our students. I’m proud of the work we are doing to close the Homework Gap and pleased that we can offer this support for the next school year.”
However, it is important to note that given past demand, the third application filing window could likely be the last opportunity for schools and libraries to request funding before the remaining funds are exhausted.
