Alliance for Digital Equality Applauds Representatives Markey, Capps and Matsui for Taking Action to Help Close the Digital Divide

Proposed E-Rate 2.0 bill aims to increase the range of telecom devices and services accessible to low-income students, such as residential broadband services and e-books for classroom lessons

ATLANTA, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Julius H. Hollis, Chairman of the Alliance for Digital Equality (ADE), issued the following statement regarding news that Representative Ed Markey (D-MA) has introduced H.R. 4619, the E-Rate 2.0 Act, to update the successful E-Rate program.  Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) have co-sponsored the bill:

"I am pleased that Representatives Markey, Capps and Matsui are taking steps to increase the range of telecom devices and services accessible to low-income students through the E-Rate 2.0 Act.  Broadband internet access opens doors that allow for extraordinary opportunity.  This opportunity should be available to all Americans – particularly our young students such as the 50,000 students in the Clayton County, Georgia Public School System, who have accessibility to ADE's "Learning Without Walls" (LearningWOW) Program.  LearningWOW is an education initiative aimed at enhancing student performance, literacy and self-esteem by providing live online tutorials for homework assistance to English and Spanish speaking students 7 days a week.  

"Unfortunately, there is still a digital divide that exists today and as a result, many minority and low-income Americans still do not realize the benefits of the digital revolution.  Without affordable access to the vast opportunity that Broadband access allows, these already disadvantaged citizens are falling further behind.  It is critical that as we work towards the goal of achieving universal broadband deployment and adoption, we always consider ways to bridge this divide.  We at the ADE support efforts to achieve this important goal and look forward to the smooth passage of this bill."

Background

Rep. Markey was the lead House author of the original E-Rate program (or "Education Rate"), which was created as a part of the 1996 Telecommunications Act.  Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) are original co-sponsors of the E-Rate 2.0 legislation.

H.R. 4619, the E-Rate 2.0 Act, directs the FCC to implement three pilot programs:

• The first pilot program narrows the digital divide through the distribution of vouchers to enable low-income students to purchase residential broadband service.
• The second utilizes a competitive grant program to extend funding for broadband equipment and services to selected community colleges and head start facilities that best demonstrate need and incorporation of broadband use in their educational mission
• The third enables certain E-Rate applicants serving particularly low-income students to apply for significantly discounted services and technologies for the use of e-book

The bill would provide for an inflation adjustment to the current $2.25 billion cap on the E-Rate program, so funding would increase with inflation.  The bill also calls for the streamlining of the application process.

About The Alliance for Digital Equality

The Alliance for Digital Equality (ADE), headquartered in Atlanta, GA is a non-profit consumer advocacy organization that serves to facilitate and ensure equal access to technology in underserved and un-served communities.  The Alliance also serves as a bridge between policymakers and minority individuals in order to help the public understand how legislative and regulatory policies regarding new technologies can impact and empower their daily lives.  For more information on The Alliance for Digital Equality, please visit www.alliancefordigitalequality.org.

SOURCE The Alliance for Digital Equality