Stakeholders Welcome Permanent 5-Year Budget E-rate Category 2 -- With Caveats
Stakeholders mostly welcomed Wednesday the FCC's announcing it made permanent the day before a five-year budget approach for E-rate category 2 spending (see 1912030065). It "ensures libraries will have access to C2 funding, essential as they continue to see more…
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and more usage of their wi-fi networks," emailed Alan Inouye, American Library Association senior director-public policy and government relations. He called the order "a mixed bag for libraries" because it raises the funding floor from $9,200 to $25,000, which helps smaller libraries. "Similarly, increasing the per-square-foot funding for non-urban libraries from $2.45 to $4.50 will make a big difference for libraries who stretch their budgets to provide broadband service to their patrons." The decrease for "much larger urban libraries," from $5.32 to $4.50, rather than the ALA's requested increase to $6, said Inouye, "is an unnecessary step backwards and will disadvantage the libraries with the most concentrated user base." John Windhausen, Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition executive director, called the 5-0 decision a sign both sides see value in the program. He's optimistic commissioners from both parties are open to adding network security to the list of eligible services for C2 funding when it comes up for review again next summer for funding year 2021. Windhausen supports the decision to equalize the per-square-foot funding. "This highly anticipated order from the FCC gives schools and libraries the assurance they’ve been seeking to proceed with" requests for proposals for Wi-Fi and other category 2 services, emailed Funds for Learning CEO John Harrington.