Lawmakers Urge FCC to Withdraw E-Rate Rulemaking on Internet Limits

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and other lawmakers sent a letter urging the Federal Communications Commission to withdraw a current rulemaking concerning possible limits to E-Rate. The FCC opened the rulemaking in June to seek comment on potential changes, which include whether the program should be limited or sunset, and examines children's use of screens and E-Rate-funded services. The FCC is currently seeking comment, not implementing a cutoff.

E-Rate is a federal program that provides discounts ranging from 20% to 90% to help eligible schools and libraries pay for broadband connections and internal networking. Nearly $182 million in E-Rate support was committed to New York recipients in 2025, and the program serves over 158,000 schools and libraries nationwide.