Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Confirmations Could Be Boost for E-Rate

Senate confirmations of Julius Genachowski as FCC chair and Meredith Atwell Baker, Mignon Clyburn, and Robert McDowell as members fill all the vacancies on the five-member Commission. At his confirmation hearing, Chairman Genachowski stated that he worked at the FCC when the E-Rate program was created and acknowledged it as an historic effort to link schools and libraries to the Internet. NSBA Executive Director Anne Bryant is a member of the Universal Service Administrative Committee that plays a critical role in administering E-Rate funds. In addition, NSBA is an active member in the EdLiNC Coalition to expand the use of educational technologies in schools and libraries by making sure that these entities receive affordable rates.