The $14,831,730.51 in funding is part of more than $1.203 billion from the FCC, being distributed in all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, according to a statement from the FCC.
In total, the funding will support 3,081,131 devices and 774,115 broadband connections and help connect more than 3.6 million students.
Data from the FCC indicates more than 70 Massachusetts schools or districts are benefitting from the funding.
“This first round of funding in the Emergency Connectivity Fund will help thousands of schools and libraries across the country provide critical online resources to their students, staff and library patrons,” said Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “From small rural libraries like the Sesser Public Library in Sesser, Illinois, to large school districts like Baltimore City Public Schools, this first wave of funding will provide more than 3 million connected devices for remote learning and will make a major dent in closing one of the cruelest parts of the digital divide.”
The funding is going to 3,040 schools, 260 libraries and 24 consortia that applied for support from the $7.17 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund Program. Of the $1.203 billion committed, about $1.17 billion will support schools, $23.97 million will go to libraries and $12.03 million will support consortia of schools and libraries. This is from the first application window.
A second application filing window will open on Sept. 28 and close on Oct. 13. It will provide funding for eligible equipment and services received or delivered between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, the statement said.
The funding is available for the purchase of laptops and tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers and broadband connections for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons in need, and is available to support off-campus learning, like homework and virtual learning as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
“Closing the Homework Gap means that all students can be connected to their schools and teachers—and now the FCC has new tools to help do just that,” Rosenworcel said. “The enthusiastic response to this program highlights just how much help is needed, and we look forward to providing additional support through our second application window that opens on Sept. 28. Together with the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, we are investing more than $10 billion in getting students and households online.”
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