Marketplace Tech FCC cuts expansion to broadband, hotspot access
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Oct 15, 2025 Nicole Turner-Lee, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of Digitally Invisible, discusses the FCC's recent decision to cut funding for school-bus Wi-Fi and library hotspot lending. She highlights the detrimental effects this will have on marginalized communities, exacerbating the digital divide. Turner-Lee emphasizes the vital role of shared connectivity for veterans and jobseekers, and shares personal stories that illustrate the real barriers many face in accessing the internet. Without federal support, crucial local programs may not survive.
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Federal Withdrawal Of Expanded Broadband Funding
- The FCC rescinded Biden-era subsidies for school-bus Wi‑Fi and library hotspot lending as unlawful expansions of authority.
- Chairman Brendan Carr said the programs exceeded what Congress authorized, so the funds were permanently rescinded.
E‑Rate Extension Aimed To Close The Homework Gap
- Jessica Rosenworcel expanded E‑rate to reach students outside school buildings to close the homework gap.
- The expansion aimed to let students finish assignments when home access was unavailable.
Shared Connectivity Multiplies Community Access
- Library lending and shared Wi‑Fi enable multiple community members to access essential online services.
- These programs extend broadband to veterans, job seekers, parents, and others who otherwise lack affordable access.
