Congress Moves to Block FCC Rule Aimed at Closing Student 'Homework Gap' via E-Rate Program

This joint resolution takes direct aim at a recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule, specifically the one titled "Addressing the Homework Gap Through the E-Rate Program" (found in 89 Fed. Reg. 67303). If passed, this resolution would use a process under the Congressional Review Act (Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code) to disapprove and effectively cancel the FCC's rule, preventing it from taking effect or continuing.

What Was the FCC Trying to Do?

The FCC's rule was designed to tackle the "Homework Gap" – that's the challenge faced by students who don't have reliable internet access at home and struggle to keep up with schoolwork. The E-Rate program traditionally helps schools and libraries get affordable internet. The now-targeted FCC rule intended to expand E-Rate eligibility to include Wi-Fi hotspots and mobile wireless internet services that students and school staff could use off-campus. Think of it as a way for schools and libraries to lend out hotspots or cover basic mobile internet plans for students who need them for homework, research, or online classes.

So, What Happens if This Resolution Passes?

If this joint resolution becomes law, the FCC's plan to use E-Rate funds for off-premises internet access for students is dead in the water. The rule, as published in the Federal Register, would be nullified. Essentially, Congress would be saying "no" to this specific expansion of the E-Rate program. This action would revert the E-Rate program's scope concerning off-premises access back to what it was before the FCC issued this particular rule.

The Real-World Impact: Who's Affected?

This isn't just bureaucratic back-and-forth; it has real consequences. The primary group feeling the impact would be students from low-income households who lack reliable internet access at home. The FCC rule was a potential lifeline for them. For example, a student in a rural area with spotty home internet or a student in a city whose family can't afford a monthly broadband bill might have benefited from a school-provided hotspot funded through this E-Rate expansion. Without this rule, schools and libraries will have one less federal avenue to help bridge that connectivity gap.

While the resolution itself doesn't allocate or de-allocate funds directly, its disapproval of the FCC rule means that specific pathway for supporting students' home internet access through E-Rate won't move forward. Those who argued against the FCC rule might see this as preventing potential federal overspending or regulatory overreach. However, for families and educators counting on this expanded support, it means a significant potential resource for educational equity is being removed from the table.