In a public statement issued June 3, FCC Chair Brendan Carr explained that the FCC has provided approximately $3 billion annually in E-rate funding over the past three decades. But, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, he said students’ screen time has increased dramatically, and the FCC must now ensure federal ed-tech funding is truly being used to improve education and not contributing to distractions and learning loss.
Carr's statement noted that in 2025, the FCC ended certain pandemic-era E-rate expansions that, in his view, unlawfully used the same Universal Service Fund that supports E-rate to also pay for off-campus Wi-Fi hot spots and connectivity on school buses.
“These continuing efforts are part of a larger effort to implement tougher oversight of all USF programs to combat waste, fraud and abuse, and ensure strict program integrity,” the FCC statement said.
Earlier this year, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory detailing the correlation between excessive screen time and poor educational outcomes, such as lower reading and arithmetic skills. The FCC is thus proposing to examine the efficacy and safety of ed tech supported by E-rate dollars.
Carr also referenced the numerous bills moving through state legislatures aimed at limiting youth screen time.
“This FCC review is also informed by the actions being taken in states across the country. We are now seeing a movement to address excessive screen time in schools, with some school districts removing devices and reducing screen time, particularly for younger children,” Carr wrote. “The notice seeks comment on measures the commission can take to ensure that E-rate program funds are being spent consistently with the universal service principles established by Congress.”
In a statement issued today, the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), a nonprofit professional association for K-12 ed-tech leaders, highlighted the importance of the E-rate program and local control over technology decision-making, given the diverse needs of districts across the country.
"CoSN encourages policymakers to carefully distinguish between E-rate’s support for essential educational connectivity and broader concerns about the unstructured use of technology outside of school for entertainment and other non-educational purposes," the statement said. "CoSN also encourages the FCC to continue prioritizing areas where it can make a significant contribution to student safety, including helping schools strengthen cybersecurity protections and address the growing threat of cyber attacks."
In his public statement, Carr said the FCC will also determine whether the Children's Internet Protection Act's existing safeguards are sufficient to prevent students from accessing inappropriate content on networks funded by E-rate.
"With graduation season upon us and many parents now looking ahead to the new school year to come, the time is ripe to have these conversations at the FCC,” Carr wrote.
