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The Federal Communications Commission voted Tuesday to end discounts to libraries and schools for hotspot lending and school bus Wi-Fi, which affects local programs.<\/p>\n
Background: The vote ended a pandemic-era initiative to get more people connected to the internet. A 2023 study found that about 3.5 million Californians<\/a> don\u2019t have quality internet access.<\/p>\n The FCC officials say: Chairman Brendan Carr, in a statement, applauded the decision. E-Rate funding is supposed to be used to improve access in classrooms and libraries, he said, adding that those places should not be reinterpreted as anywhere learning may happen.<\/p>\n Read on \u2026 for how the FCC\u2019s vote will affect local libraries.<\/p>\n A recent decision by the Federal Communications Commission to end assistance meant to expand Wi-Fi access in communities during the pandemic lockdown will force L.A. County libraries to end their digital lending services.<\/p>\n The Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday voted to end E-Rate discounts to libraries and schools for hotspot lending and school bus Wi-Fi, saying the initiatives \u201cexceeded\u201d or were \u201cinconsistent\u201d with the commission’s authority.<\/p>\n The FCC\u2019s decision already is having direct effects on local libraries.<\/p>\n \u201cDue to the FCC\u2019s recent vote to end E-Rate support for library hotspot lending, L.A. County Library will begin winding down its digital lending services,\u201d Karol Sarkisyan, marketing manager at L.A. County Library, told LAist. \u201cContinuing these services would cost the library approximately $40,500 per month \u2014 an expense the library\u2019s current budget cannot absorb.\u201d<\/p>\n Remaining American Rescue Plan funds will allow the L.A. County Library to continue laptop lending through January and hotspot lending through March 2026. Free Wi-Fi also will continue to be offered inside and within 25 feet of library locations.<\/p>\n A Los Angeles Unified spokesperson told LAist the district doesn’t receive funds for bus Wi-Fi, but it does expect between 60,000 to 70,000 student to be affected by the loss of hotspot lending. <\/p>\n “The anticipated loss to Los Angeles Unified from the Hotspot Lending Program is approximately $10-12 million,” the spokesperson said in a statement.\u00a0“The annual loss is $622,000.” <\/p>\n