The Hill

By Kim Hart

Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) introduced a bill today to update the E-Rate program to help close the digital divide.

Markey authored the original E-Rate bill that, in 1996, allowed schools to link up to the Web. He said 95 percent of public school classrooms now have Internet access, compared to just 14 percent 14 years ago.

"Now, with the expansion of the scope of technology, students need more than just Web access at school, and our E-Rate 2.0 bill is intended to reflect those expanded needs," Markey said in a press release. He wants to increase the range of telecom devices and services accessible to low-income students, like residential broadband services and e-books for classroom lessons.

The bill would allow the current $2.25 billion cap on the E-Rate program to increase with inflation.

It also directs the FCC to implement three pilot programs:

--The first pilot program narrows the digital divide through the distribution of vouchers to enable low-income students to purchase residential broadband service.

--The second utilizes a competitive grant program to extend funding for broadband equipment and services to selected community colleges and head start facilities that best demonstrate need and incorporation of broadband use in their educational mission.

--The third enables certain E-Rate applicants serving particularly low-income students to apply for significantly discounted services and technologies for the use of e-books.

Reps. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) and Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) co-sponsored the legislation.

The FCC is also evaluating E-Rate programs in its national broadband plan.

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