The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed scaling back a $2 billion programme that provides internet access to schools and libraries. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr argued that students are spending too much time on screens, suggesting the original focus of E-Rate—supporting basic Internet access for educational purposes—has evolved into an overextension.

‘Over the last decade, school districts across the country experimented with a massive increase in screen time for students,’ said Carr at today’s meeting. He blamed schools for replacing traditional tools like books and pencils with digital ones, citing data that shows more than half of students now use computers for up to four hours a day.

The FCC is seeking public feedback on whether E-Rate should be limited or even terminated. In the draft proposal, they ask: ‘Should the E-Rate program be limited or sunset to reflect today’s extensive connectivity rates? At what point should policymakers conclude that the program’s core objective has been achieved?’

Commissioner Anna Gomez, the only Democrat on the FCC, opposed removing the language suggesting a potential end for E-Rate. The debate reflects broader discussions about the digital divide and whether school internet access is still necessary.