Media Contact: 
Adam Cassady 
Adam.Cassady@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

COMMISSION SIMINGTON PRAISES ADOPTION OF EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUND ORDER
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WASHINGTON, May 11, 2021—Yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission announced the unanimous adoption of the Order establishing the Emergency Connectivity Fund.  Commissioner Simington issued the following statement:
 
“The Emergency Connectivity Fund invests over $7 billion into improving connectivity for American students at a critical moment in our nation’s history.  In partnership with schools and libraries, the ECF will help our public educational systems provide laptops and other devices that students need to do their schoolwork at a time when many children are still out of the physical classroom and attending a virtual one.  What’s more, the ECF will direct funding at those school and library systems that need it most: those that have not yet been able to fund large-scale, digital connectivity programs.  This significant improvement will make a tremendous difference in accomplishing the program’s aims: to connect unconnected students on the wrong side of the digital divide to the resources they require to get the education they need.  I am also heartened to see that many educational technologies, including datacasting, were made available in the Order.  The right tool for the job is the one you have.
 
I thank Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel for her effective leadership in getting the item through a successful vote on time.  I also thank my colleagues on the Commission for their diligent work and thoughtful edits, and I thank all of the dedicated Commission staff who worked around the clock to get it done.”

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Office of Commissioner Simington / @SimingtonFCC / www.fcc.gov/leadership/nathan-simington

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).