Media Contact: Anne Veigle anne.veigle@fcc.gov For Immediate Release FCC ANNOUNCES OVER $96 MILLION IN EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES Nearly $53 Million Will Benefit Students Impacted by Hurricanes Fiona and Ian in Florida, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, and South Carolina -- WASHINGTON, October 5, 2022—The Federal Communications Commission today announced it is committing $96 million in new funding rounds through the Emergency Connectivity Program, which provides digital services for students in communities across the country. Today’s funding announcement will support applications for broadband service and connected devices to students across the country, especially those living in states impacted by Hurricanes Fiona and Ian, including Florida, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, and South Carolina. Nearly $53 million will benefit students, teachers, and library patrons living in areas impacted by recent hurricanes. For example, the Puerto Rico Department of Education is receiving support for 225,000 mobile hotspots and Pinellas County Schools near Clearwater, Florida is receiving support for nearly 15,000 laptops. “We need to make sure all kids have digital tools for connecting with school, but it’s especially important for students living in those areas damaged by the recent hurricanes,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel. “This program will help those students by funding hot spots, tablets, and broadband services, building on our ongoing work to close the Homework Gap.” To date, the Commission has committed over $6 billion to schools and libraries across the country as part of the Emergency Connectivity Program, which launched last year. The program has provided schools and libraries with three different “application windows” to apply for support. Today’s announcement provides funding for applications put forward in all three application windows, which will support approximately 170 schools, 30 libraries, and 1 consortium. The funding can be used to support off-campus learning, such as nightly homework, to ensure students across the country have the necessary support to keep up with their education. To date, the program has provided support to approximately 10,000 schools, 900 libraries, and 100 consortia, and provided approximately 12 million connected devices and 7 million broadband connections. Of the funding commitments approved to date, approximately $4.1 billion is supporting applications from Window 1; $833 million from Window 2; and $1 billion from Window 3. More details about which schools and libraries have received funding commitments can be found at https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-connectivity-fund. ### Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov 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).