Media Contact: 
Anne Veigle
anne.veigle@fcc.gov 

For Immediate Release

FCC ANNOUNCES NEARLY $78 MILLION IN EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES 
Over 14 Million Students Benefitting from Program 
to Help Close the Homework Gap 
  -- 
WASHINGTON, October 19, 2022—The Federal Communications Commission today announced it is committing nearly $78 million in funding rounds through the Emergency Connectivity Program, which provides digital services for students in communities across the country.  Today’s funding commitments support applications from the first and third application windows, benefiting approximately 175,000 students across the country, including students in Delaware, Florida, Indiana, North Carolina, New Mexico, and Texas.  

“As the school year progresses, we need to make sure that kids can connect with teachers and homework assignments when classes finish for the day,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel.  “This program will help our 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 nearly $6.1 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 three different “application windows” for schools and libraries to apply for support.  Today’s announcement includes nearly $78 million from the first and third application windows that will support over 190 schools, 30 libraries, and one 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 over 10,000 schools, 900 libraries, and 100 consortia, providing over 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 $1.1 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).