Latest news with #E-rate
Business Wire
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
A Decade of Bringing California Public Libraries State-of-the-Art Broadband on the CENIC Network
LA MIRADA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In 2014, California's Public Libraries embarked on a remarkable journey, joining the vast majority of California's public schools, colleges, and universities as members of CENIC, with the vision of bringing robust, high-speed broadband to all Californians. By connecting to the California Research and Education Network (CalREN), public libraries gained access to a world-class network built for California's leading research universities and positioned libraries as critical digital lifelines for the communities they serve. Today, nearly 1000 of the state's 1127 libraries connect to CalREN thanks to ongoing support from the State of California and the sustained leadership of the State Librarian, Greg Lucas, and Governor Gavin Newsom, whose collaboration with CENIC ensures that library patrons, whether in urban centers or rural communities, have access to reliable, high-capacity Internet – a service that has become a fundamental and necessary utility in the 21st century. Prior to participation with CENIC, 44% of library jurisdictions were not applying for CTF (the California Teleconnect Fund) or E-rate (the federal universal services fund), and another 11% of library jurisdictions were only applying for CTF. These state and federal subsidy programs assist public libraries by lowering the cost of high-speed broadband services. By joining CENIC, libraries receive expert assistance in handling their federal E-rate applications and filing for CTF eligibility, all organized by CENIC. In the State Library's latest report to the State Legislature, over $110 million (and counting) in cumulative federal E-rate funds have been drawn down from the federal government since partnering with CENIC to address library broadband needs. The critical E-rate program is currently under legal review by the U.S. Supreme Court, introducing uncertainty into a program that underpins digital access for schools and libraries nationwide. At the same time, the proposed Federal Fiscal Year 2026 Budget calls for the elimination of funding for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and its administering body, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which is the federal agency solely dedicated to library funding. This follows the President's March 14 Executive Order targeting IMLS and six other independent agencies for dismantling. The potential consequences of this rollback are profound. Without these essential federal investments, many libraries, especially those serving rural, low-income, and historically underserved communities, could not afford the high-speed connections and modern infrastructure required to meet today's digital demands. A recent State Library survey revealed that 31 library jurisdictions (the term of art for library systems) urgently need to upgrade bandwidth at one or more branches. In total, libraries face an estimated $20 million in needed infrastructure improvements and equipment replacements to offer adequate broadband access for their patrons. This comes as home Internet speeds have surged, with many California households now enjoying 1 Gigabit connections or more through residential fiber and cable providers. According to BroadbandNow, 96% of people have access to 100 Mbps broadband, and 51.1% have access to 1 Gbps broadband speeds. As patrons walk into libraries expecting the same speed and seamless digital experience that many have at home, high-speeds for library networks are becoming increasingly important. With branches hosting everything from virtual reality learning to Zoom-based workforce training, sustaining and continuing to upgrade these connections will only become more critical over time. 'When we upgraded our broadband connection, our libraries were much better equipped to handle the technology needs of the diverse communities we serve. Small business owners were able to connect with customers and conduct business online more effectively, students could virtually communicate with teachers, submit their work online, and participate in virtual learning, and job seekers were now better able to hone their skills, apply for and interview for jobs, and submit resumes. This demonstrates the library's role as a digital equalizer,' said Nancy Schram, Library Director at the Ventura County Library and CENIC Board member. 'In today's world, if your connection can't handle teleconferencing, streaming educational content, or large file uploads, your community is effectively cut off from opportunity.' As more public services, educational resources, and job applications move online and AI and data-heavy technologies become mainstream, the need for future-proofed Internet access at libraries is no longer optional. It is essential. For millions of Californians, the public library remains the only place offering free Internet, computer access, digital literacy training, and tech support to ensure they don't fall behind. 'Connecting California's libraries to CalREN is an important step toward digital opportunity in our state, and the project was the largest and most complex effort since CENIC connected K12 schools 20 years ago. Libraries serve as community anchors. When they are equipped with world-class broadband, every resident, regardless of geography or income, has access to the tools they need for work, education, health, and economic security. The goal is for every Californian to prosper, and ensure that the talent, imagination, and the capacity for innovation in every community can flourish," said Louis Fox, President and CEO of CENIC. California's libraries are not just places to borrow books; they are community hubs, educational anchors, and gateways to opportunity. The next decade depends on bold goals and continued investments in our libraries to ensure they remain that way.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Holyoke's Devin Sheehan will lead National School Boards Association
HOLYOKE — Devin M. Sheehan, an advocate for public education and a long-serving member of the Holyoke School Committee, will lead the National School Boards Association next year. The association lobbies on behalf of students in public schools nationwide, working to make sure they get a fair and high-quality education. Having attended public schools and advocated for students, Sheehan said he knows the transformative power of public education. 'In this role, I remain deeply committed to advancing and protecting our nation's public schools — standing up for equitable resources, supporting our educators, and ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed,' he said. 'Together, we will continue to be strong voices for the future of public education." His one-year term as the association's president will run for the 2025-26 school year. The association represents school board members across the United States and the Virgin Islands, according to a statement issued Monday by Holyoke Public Schools. Sheehan, who works for state Sen. Jake Oliveira, D-Ludlow, holds a bachelor's degree from Franklin Pierce University and a master's in public policy from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Sheehan served on the Holyoke School Committee from 2010 to 2022 and was appointed as an at-large representative in June 2024. Over the years, Sheehan took on leadership responsibilities within the Massachusetts Association of School Committees leading to his role as president in 2019. That year, he ran for a position on the board of the National School Boards Association. He takes the president's post in the association at a time of significant upheaval in the federal government. 'To be here now is a challenge, but I have been fighting for so many years I am ready for the challenge to keep federal legislators on their toes to get the resources that students need,' he said. Sheehan will be involved in advocacy and outreach at the federal level, while also helping to train school board members. Sheehan said the board is focusing on ensuring that all students have broadband access through E-rate and on reauthorizing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. He takes the post at a time when the Trump administration is seeking to dismantle the Department of Education. Sheehan said he sees his role as addressing national issues and working with federal legislators. 'Policy changes can occur rapidly,' he said, 'making it crucial to watch and advocate for federal funding.' Sheehan said the board focuses on advocating, securing and monitoring federal funds for supplemental programs provided through the Department of Education, such as universal free school lunch, student protections and educator training. 'Dismantling the federal Department of Education requires congressional action,' he said. '[A] party cannot simply close the department because the federal government provides for students with disabilities and safeguards are needed to ensure every student receives a quality education.' Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia notes Sheehan's advocacy and roots in the community. 'As schools across the country navigate significant federal changes and evolving challenges, we need steady, experienced leadership more than ever,' Garcia said. 'His proven commitment to students make him the leader we need right now. We're proud to see him representing our community on the national stage.' Sheehan concedes that the association lost credibility in 2021 when it wrote to the Biden administration asking that the Justice Department use the Patriot Act to investigate parents who harassed school board members. Incidents from 2021 are mostly behind the group now, he said. Sheehan brings a deep commitment to public education, a vision for student success and a history of service, the association's executive director and CEO, Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs, said in a statement. Holyoke Public Schools Superintendent Anthony Soto praised Sheehan's commitment to equity and inclusivity. Mildred Lefebvre, an at-large representative of the Holyoke School Committee, is also on the association's board. Sheehan said having two Holyoke committee members on the board is rare. 17 'crucial' AmeriCorps programs in Mass. on the chopping block amid DOGE cuts Holyoke Landing, location of Popeyes and Starbucks, sold Howdy Awards honor 10 for hospitality excellence in Springfield area Mass. tenant union to hold training for disabled Chicopee Housing Authority residents Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Supreme Court takes up $8 billion phone and internet subsidy for rural and low-income areas
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court hears arguments Wednesday in a major legal fight over the $8 billion a year the federal government spends to subsidize phone and internet services in schools, libraries and rural areas, in a new test of federal regulatory power. The justices are reviewing an appellate ruling that struck down as unconstitutional the Universal Service Fund, the tax that has been added to phone bills for nearly 30 years. Tens of millions of Americans have benefited from the programs that receive money from the fund and eliminating it 'would cause severe disruptions,' lawyers for associations of telecommunications companies wrote. The Federal Communications Commission collects the money from telecommunications providers, who then pass the cost on to their customers. A conservative advocacy group, Consumer Research, challenged the practice. The justices had previously denied two appeals from Consumer Research after federal appeals courts upheld the program. But the full 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, among the nation's most conservative, ruled 9-7 that the method of funding is unconstitutional. The 5th Circuit held that Congress has given too much authority to the FCC and the agency in turn has ceded too much power to a private entity, or administrator. The last time the Supreme Court invoked what is known as the non-delegation doctrine to strike down a federal law was in 1935. But several conservative justices have suggested they are open to breathing new life into the legal doctrine. The conservative-led court also has reined in federal agencies in high-profile rulings in recent years. Last year, the court reversed a 40-year-old case that had been used thousands of times to uphold federal regulations. In 2022, the court ruled Congress has to act with specificity before agencies can address 'major questions,' in a ruling that limited the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to combat climate change. The Trump administration, which has moved aggressively to curtail administrative agencies in other areas, is defending the FCC program. The appeal was initially filed by the Biden administration. 'Neither Congress's conferral of authority on the FCC, the FCC's reliance on advice from the administrator, nor the combination of the two violates the Constitution,' acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris wrote in a Supreme Court brief. Consumer Research calls the situation a 'nightmare scenario' in which Congress has set no limits on how much the FCC can raise to fund the program. 'Predictably, the USF tax rate has skyrocketed. It was under 4% in 1998 but now approaches 37%,' lawyers for the group wrote. They said there's an easy fix: Congress can appropriate money for the program, or at least set a maximum rate. But last year, Congress let funding lapse for an internet subsidy program, the Affordable Connectivity Program, and the FCC moved to fill the gap by providing money from the E-rate program, one of several funded by the Universal Service Fund. Congress created the Universal Service Fund as part of its overhaul of the telecommunications industry in 1996, aimed at promoting competition and eliminating monopolies. The subsidies for rural and low-income areas were meant to ensure that phone and internet services would remain affordable. A decision is expected by late June. Mark Sherman, The Associated Press Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Supreme Court takes up $8 billion phone and internet subsidy for rural and low-income areas
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court hears arguments Wednesday in a major legal fight over the $8 billion a year the federal government spends to subsidize phone and internet services in schools, libraries and rural areas, in a new test of federal regulatory power. The justices are reviewing an appellate ruling that struck down as unconstitutional the Universal Service Fund, the tax that has been added to phone bills for nearly 30 years. Tens of millions of Americans have benefited from the programs that receive money from the fund and eliminating it 'would cause severe disruptions,' lawyers for associations of telecommunications companies wrote. The Federal Communications Commission collects the money from telecommunications providers, who then pass the cost on to their customers. A conservative advocacy group, Consumer Research, challenged the practice. The justices had previously denied two appeals from Consumer Research after federal appeals courts upheld the program. But the full 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, among the nation's most conservative, ruled 9-7 that the method of funding is unconstitutional. The 5th Circuit held that Congress has given too much authority to the FCC and the agency in turn has ceded too much power to a private entity, or administrator. The last time the Supreme Court invoked what is known as the non-delegation doctrine to strike down a federal law was in 1935. But several conservative justices have suggested they are open to breathing new life into the legal doctrine. The conservative-led court also has reined in federal agencies in high-profile rulings in recent years. Last year, the court reversed a 40-year-old case that had been used thousands of times to uphold federal regulations. In 2022, the court ruled Congress has to act with specificity before agencies can address 'major questions,' in a ruling that limited the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to combat climate change. The Trump administration, which has moved aggressively to curtail administrative agencies in other areas, is defending the FCC program. The appeal was initially filed by the Biden administration. 'Neither Congress's conferral of authority on the FCC, the FCC's reliance on advice from the administrator, nor the combination of the two violates the Constitution,' acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris wrote in a Supreme Court brief. Consumer Research calls the situation a 'nightmare scenario' in which Congress has set no limits on how much the FCC can raise to fund the program. 'Predictably, the USF tax rate has skyrocketed. It was under 4% in 1998 but now approaches 37%,' lawyers for the group wrote. They said there's an easy fix: Congress can appropriate money for the program, or at least set a maximum rate. But last year, Congress let funding lapse for an internet subsidy program, the Affordable Connectivity Program, and the FCC moved to fill the gap by providing money from the E-rate program, one of several funded by the Universal Service Fund. Congress created the Universal Service Fund as part of its overhaul of the telecommunications industry in 1996, aimed at promoting competition and eliminating monopolies. The subsidies for rural and low-income areas were meant to ensure that phone and internet services would remain affordable. A decision is expected by late June.
The Hill
26-03-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Supreme Court takes up $8 billion phone and internet subsidy for rural and low-income areas
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court hears arguments Wednesday in a major legal fight over the $8 billion a year the federal government spends to subsidize phone and internet services in schools, libraries and rural areas, in a new test of federal regulatory power. The justices are reviewing an appellate ruling that struck down as unconstitutional the Universal Service Fund, the tax that has been added to phone bills for nearly 30 years. Tens of millions of Americans have benefited from the programs that receive money from the fund and eliminating it 'would cause severe disruptions,' lawyers for associations of telecommunications companies wrote. The Federal Communications Commission collects the money from telecommunications providers, who then pass the cost on to their customers. A conservative advocacy group, Consumer Research, challenged the practice. The justices had previously denied two appeals from Consumer Research after federal appeals courts upheld the program. But the full 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, among the nation's most conservative, ruled 9-7 that the method of funding is unconstitutional. The 5th Circuit held that Congress has given too much authority to the FCC and the agency in turn has ceded too much power to a private entity, or administrator. The last time the Supreme Court invoked what is known as the non-delegation doctrine to strike down a federal law was in 1935. But several conservative justices have suggested they are open to breathing new life into the legal doctrine. The conservative-led court also has reined in federal agencies in high-profile rulings in recent years. Last year, the court reversed a 40-year-old case that had been used thousands of times to uphold federal regulations. In 2022, the court ruled Congress has to act with specificity before agencies can address 'major questions,' in a ruling that limited the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to combat climate change. The Trump administration, which has moved aggressively to curtail administrative agencies in other areas, is defending the FCC program. The appeal was initially filed by the Biden administration. 'Neither Congress's conferral of authority on the FCC, the FCC's reliance on advice from the administrator, nor the combination of the two violates the Constitution,' acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris wrote in a Supreme Court brief. Consumer Research calls the situation a 'nightmare scenario' in which Congress has set no limits on how much the FCC can raise to fund the program. 'Predictably, the USF tax rate has skyrocketed. It was under 4% in 1998 but now approaches 37%,' lawyers for the group wrote. They said there's an easy fix: Congress can appropriate money for the program, or at least set a maximum rate. But last year, Congress let funding lapse for an internet subsidy program, the Affordable Connectivity Program, and the FCC moved to fill the gap by providing money from the E-rate program, one of several funded by the Universal Service Fund. Congress created the Universal Service Fund as part of its overhaul of the telecommunications industry in 1996, aimed at promoting competition and eliminating monopolies. The subsidies for rural and low-income areas were meant to ensure that phone and internet services would remain affordable.
