New Democrat Coalition Members Respond to E-Rate Order from Federal Communications Commission
The New Democrat Coalition members working on solutions for an E-rate program capable of meeting 21st century learning needs released the following statement in response to the FCC’s vote to modernize E-rate this morning:
“We are pleased to see that the FCC has taken a critical first step toward bringing the E-rate program into the 21st century,” the statement read. “While today’s order is not perfect, it will help to ensure that millions of American students have access to the next-generation broadband technology they need to succeed – a core priority we encouraged the Commissioners to embrace in our bipartisan letter last month. We look forward to working with the FCC and with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue efforts to modernize the E-rate program in the months and years to come.“
Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), and Jared Polis (D-CO), who led the bipartisan letter to the FCC, all endorsed the above statement.
In early June, 38 New Dems joined six House Republicans on a letter to the FCC urging the Commission to modernize the E-rate program and help “connect our nation’s schools and libraries to high-speed broadband over the next five years.” The letter outlined five core priorities for E-rate modernization that would help to improve America’s education system and prepare students for 21st-century jobs. It noted recent OECD statistics that suggest America’s students are behind those of most developed countries in digital literacy skills.
The New Democrat Coalition is dedicated to maintaining America’s standing as the world’s strongest, most successful nation. Founded in 1997, the New Dems believe firmly in the power of American ingenuity and innovation, and are focused on finding ways to foster and harness this creativity to grow our economy, create new American jobs, and ensure a safer and more secure future for our country.
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