The FCC committed $15 million in a new funding round through the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program (ECF). The ECF provides digital services for students nationwide. This funding commitment supports applications from the first and third application windows, benefiting approximately 35,000 students across the country, including students in California, Delaware, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Nebraska, New York, and Pennsylvania.
“This program has helped millions of students get the digital tools they need for online learning and connecting with teachers,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. She said the money “is another step in our ongoing work to close the Homework Gap.”
Launched in 2021, the ECP has provided schools and libraries three different “application windows” to apply for support. The program has helped 17 million students get connected to their schools and teachers.
The funding can be used to support off-campus learning, such as nightly homework, to ensure students have the necessary support to keep up with their education. This announcement will support approximately 50 schools and five libraries.
Nearly $6.7 billion in funding has been approved so far. To date, the program has provided support to approximately 11,000 schools, and 1,000 libraries, and provided nearly 13 million connected devices and over eight million broadband connections.
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