Common Sense Media and Over 80 Organizations Urge the U.S. House to Reject Repeal of Critical School Internet Access Program

WASHINGTON, DC, May 29, 2025 — Common Sense Media, along with more than 80 national and state organizations, today urged the U.S. House of Representatives to vote against a proposed repeal of the E-Rate wireless hotspot lending program used by schools and libraries to help keep students connected to the internet.

The coalition letter warns that repealing the E-Rate hotspot lending program would jeopardize internet access for millions of students, educators, library patrons, and other community members, particularly in rural and underserved areas. If enacted, the repeal would force the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reject thousands of pending hotspot funding applications and permanently prohibit the agency from reinstating this critical program.

The letter warns:

"If this resolution becomes law, not only would the FCC have to reject currently pending requests for hotspots from schools and libraries across the nation, the FCC would be barred from ever reinstituting this program. In short, this resolution would prevent millions of students and library patrons across the country from obtaining internet access now and in the future."

The joint letter underscores that:

• Nearly 20,000 schools and libraries expressed interest in applying for hotspot support in the program's first year.
• Despite uncertainty around the future of the program, over 8,000 applicants recently sought funding for more than 200,000 hotspot connections.
• Hotspots help close the homework gap by providing essential connectivity for students who lack adequate internet access at home.
• The program is fiscally responsible, with all costs contained within the existing E-Rate funding cap.
• Hotspots offer safe, filtered internet access compliant with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), ensuring protections for minors.
• Lending programs are already widely implemented, with nearly half of public libraries now offering hotspot checkout services.

Beyond education, hotspots enable access to telehealth, job resources, and emergency services, particularly in hard to reach communities . The coalition highlights that schools and libraries in 46 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have submitted hotspot applications during the current E-Rate funding window, illustrating the program's broad and bipartisan appeal. Repealing the program now would widen the digital divide, leaving millions without broadband at a time when high-speed internet is essential for fully participating in society.

Read the full letter here. Read Common Sense Media's response to the Senate vote here. For more information about Common Sense Media, visit www.commonsensemedia.org.

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