SHLB Coalition and Partners Vow to Fight FCC’s Attack on School and Library Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 25, 2026) – The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition and partners vowed to fight back today after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to advance a proposal that asks whether the E-Rate program, which has provided affordable broadband to schools and libraries for nearly 30 years, should be terminated or limited to only rural areas.

The coalition maintains that E-Rate's success is precisely the reason to sustain it. Connectivity now supports nearly every function of a modern school or library, from online testing and classroom instruction to book checkout, security systems and other daily building operations. That connectivity endures only because E-Rate continues to support it year after year. Because funding is tied to need, the coalition warned that scaling back the program would hurt schools and libraries across the country, and would hit hardest in lower-income communities, rural and urban alike, that depend on it most, widening the very digital divide that Congress established E-Rate to close.

"Instead of asking whether E-Rate should be terminated, the FCC should be asking how to make it stronger," said Joey Wender, Executive Director of the SHLB Coalition. "The Commission is treating the program's success as a reason to walk away, when it is exactly the reason to stay the course. Today, the FCC took the damaging step towards either ending E-Rate or shrinking it to only rural areas, despite lacking the authority to do so and despite a clear congressional mandate to bring universal service to every community."

"Concerns about children's screen time deserve to be taken seriously, but they should not become a backdoor for dismantling one of the country’s most successful connectivity programs and adding unnecessary budgetary strain on schools and libraries across the nation," Wender added. "SHLB will not stand by while the FCC tries to end the E-Rate program. Today’s vote represents an attack on school and library funding that these institutions can’t afford to lose, particularly in the most disadvantaged rural and urban communities. We plan to respond by mobilizing schools, libraries and the communities they serve and encourage anyone who is alarmed by today’s vote to visit SaveOurERate.com, to find out how we can fill the record with the voices of the people who know exactly what is at stake in this proceeding."

"A fast, reliable internet connection is as necessary for library workers and patrons, educators and students as it is for FCC regulators, but it's not cheap to maintain. Withholding broadband access from learning institutions that rely on it to serve their communities and fulfill their missions is not the answer to the alarming increase in screen time for kids or adults," said Sam Helmick, President of the American Library Association (ALA). "There is no justification for pulling the plug on E-Rate. E-Rate continues to fulfill the congressional mandate that established it 30 years ago: 'providing affordable access to telecommunications services for all eligible schools and libraries, particularly those in rural and economically disadvantaged areas.' As long as there are Americans who cannot afford or don't have access to a high-speed broadband connection, E-Rate should continue. ALA is rallying the library community to speak clearly and collectively in defense of E‑Rate and the access it provides.”

"E-Rate is about connectivity, and that connectivity underpins nearly every aspect of school district operations, from security systems and transportation to HVAC, student information systems and classroom learning. Without reliable, affordable broadband, students cannot fully participate, and schools cannot function effectively. There is no defense or explanation for pulling back a program that has, for 30 years, ensured equitable access for schools and libraries. Weakening E-Rate will force districts into real tradeoffs: cutting staff, programs or student supports just to afford essential connectivity. We appreciate the FCC providing an extended comment window, which gives stakeholders a meaningful opportunity to respond to the complexity of the proposal. AASA will continue working with EdLiNC, SHLB, ALA and other partners to protect and strengthen internet access for our nation's students," said Noelle Ellerson Ng, Chief Advocacy and Governance Officer at AASA, The School Superintendents Association and Co-Chair of the Education and Libraries Network Coalition (EdLiNC).

"CoSN is deeply concerned that the FCC's pending E-Rate rulemaking could threaten a program that has been essential for schools for nearly three decades. While we share the FCC's commitment to student safety, we cannot lose sight of E-Rate's core mission: ensuring that students and educators have access to secure, high-capacity broadband required for digital learning," said Keith Krueger, CEO of the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN). "At a time when school systems are addressing growing cybersecurity threats and preparing students with critical digital and artificial intelligence (AI) skills, efforts should be directed toward strengthening and modernizing this vital program to meet the needs of students, educators and communities."

While the FCC chose not to respond to requests to remove language from the proposal regarding limiting or ending E-Rate, SHLB and partners appreciate the FCC following its recommendation of extending the comment period for stakeholders to provide feedback on the proceeding. The coalition intends to use every day of that window to fill the record with the voices of the schools, libraries, and communities that depend on E-Rate most.

SHLB and partners have launched an action center at SaveOurERate.com, a central hub for everyone who depends on the program. The site houses the resources the community needs to get involved, including tools to file comments with the FCC, guidance on how to write to members of Congress and other ways to take action. The coalition urges schools, libraries and the communities they serve to visit the site, make their voices heard and keep returning to it as the proceeding moves forward.

SHLB will also host a free webinar on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 2pm ET to break down the proposal and walk stakeholders through how to make their voices heard, and will offer additional programming on the threat facing E-Rate at its annual AnchorNets conference, October 7-9, 2026, in Arlington, VA.

Media Availability
Joey Wender is available for interviews. For more information, visit www.shlb.org or follow @SHLBcoalition on LinkedIn, Facebook or X.

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About SHLB: The SHLB Coalition is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) advocacy organization that supports open, affordable, high-quality broadband connections for anchor institutions and their surrounding communities. The SHLB Coalition is based in Washington, D.C., and has a diverse membership of commercial and non-commercial organizations across the United States. To learn more, visit www.shlb.org.