Overview

• FCC Chair Brendan Carr asked commissioners to rescind Biden‑era decisions that opened E‑Rate funding to library‑loaned hotspots and Wi‑Fi on school buses.
• Carr argued the prior rules were unlawful and funded unsupervised screen time for children, saying the FCC failed to show a legitimate classroom or library purpose.
• The plan includes a declaratory ruling to overturn the 2023 school‑bus decision and an order to reverse the 2024 off‑premises hotspot expansion.
• If adopted, Universal Service Fund administrators would deny pending funding‑year 2025 E‑Rate requests covering off‑campus hotspots and bus Wi‑Fi.
• Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez and broadband advocates warn the rollback would widen the digital divide for students and seniors, while E‑Rate continues to support on‑premises services after disbursing about $1.75 billion in 2024.