The FCC’s Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) is a new, one-time $7.17 billion program included as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. It will help K-12 schools and public libraries provide the tools and services their communities need for remote learning during the COVID-19 emergency period. ECF will help provide relief to millions of students, school staff, and library patrons and will help close the Homework Gap for students who currently lack necessary Internet access or the devices they need to connect to classrooms.
For eligible schools and libraries, the ECF Program will cover reasonable costs of laptop and tablet computers; Wi-Fi hotspots; modems; routers; and broadband connectivity purchases for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons. The initial 45-day application window will be open from June 29, 2021 – August 13, 2021.
Presenter: Christa Porter, Library Development Director, Nebraska Library Commission.