Austin News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash) have expressed their strong opposition to a plan to expand the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) E-Rate program. In a letter addressed to FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, the lawmakers emphasized their concerns about the proposed expansion, citing violations of federal law and potential duplication of programs across the federal government.

The plan, put forth by FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, seeks to expand the E-Rate program to include funding for Wi-Fi hotspots on school buses. However, Cruz and McMorris Rodgers argue that this expansion would be unlawful, as the statute only allows for connectivity spending for classrooms and libraries. They also raise concerns about subsidizing children's unsupervised internet access to social media sites during their bus rides.

In their letter, Cruz and McMorris Rodgers state, “This plan would not only violate federal law but also duplicate programs across the federal government, directly contradicting FCC commissioners’ repeated commitments to streamlining federal broadband funding." They further highlight Commissioner Nathan Simington's statement that the plan "would eviscerate Congress' restrictions on E-Rate and make a mockery of the law."

Rather than expanding the FCC's authority beyond current constraints, Cruz and McMorris Rodgers urge the Commission to address the existing problems within the E-Rate program and abide by the law. They emphasize that expanding the program to fund equipment like Wi-Fi hotspots would break with the statute and longstanding precedent.

The lawmakers also express concerns about potential wasteful subsidized overbuilding in communities, as the E-Rate program already subsidizes broadband deployment to schools and libraries. They argue that expanding E-Rate support to off-campus connectivity could lead to the use of taxpayer dollars to compete with existing broadband providers, which they deem inappropriate and inefficient.

Additionally, Cruz and McMorris Rodgers highlight the deep-seated problems within the E-Rate program, including waste, fraud, and abuse. They point out that the program primarily benefits large, wealthy school districts rather than disadvantaged rural schools. The extensive backlog of E-Rate applications and appeals at the FCC is also a cause for concern.

In conclusion, the lawmakers reject Chairwoman Rosenworcel's plan to expand the E-Rate program and call for collaboration between the FCC and Congress to advance policy goals while adhering to the law.