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Title: Senate Passes 'Cruel' Republican Plan To Block Wi-Fi Hotspots For
Schoolkids

Link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/25/05/08/18592...

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: The US Senate today
voted along party lines to kill a Federal Communications Commission program
to distribute Wi-Fi hotspots to schoolchildren, with Democrats saying the
Republican-led vote will make it harder for kids without reliable Internet
access to complete their homework. The Senate approved a Congressional Review
Act (CRA) resolution to nullify the hotspot rule, which was issued by the
Federal Communications Commission in July 2024 under then-Chairwoman Jessica
Rosenworcel. The program would be eliminated if the House version passes and
President Trump signs the joint resolution of disapproval. The Rosenworcel
FCC's rule expanded E-Rate, a Universal Service Fund program, allowing
schools and libraries to use E-Rate funding to lend out Wi-Fi hotspots and
services that could be used off-premises. The FCC rule was titled,
"Addressing the Homework Gap through the E-Rate Program," and the hotspot
lending program was scheduled to begin in funding year 2025, which starts in
July 2025. Today's Senate vote on the resolution of disapproval was 50-38.
There was a 53-47 vote on Tuesday that allowed the Senate measure to proceed
to the final step. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said on Tuesday that
"this resolution would prevent millions of students, educators, and families
from getting online." Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) called the Republican move
"a cruel and shortsighted decision that will widen the digital divide and rob
kids of the tools they need to succeed."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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