Schools, Libraries Seek Millions in ECF Funding for Hot Spots, Devices

Some applicants said their requested funding will connect students and library patrons at home even as they return to in-person operations. Kentucky’s Pike County Public Library District reopened its in-person services and applied for more than $25,000 to buy 45 Chromebooks and 35 hot spots. “We felt like we've had that need for quite some time because we're in a very rural area,” said Technology Coordinator Wes Fleming. The library's main branch has a drive-through for patrons to receive devices that “has gotten extremely popular” and will be used to give out additional devices bought with ECF support, Fleming said. Patrons also brought their own device to the parking lot of a library to access Wi-Fi when it was closed, he said.

Few applicants sought funding for self-provisioning and school bus Wi-Fi, said Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition Executive Director John Windhausen. Many schools wanted to replace outdated devices, he said. In New Mexico, nearly 100 school districts applied for a total of about $67 million in ECF support, Windhausen said, saying he spoke to several schools, libraries, and consultants that sought funding, and the process was “pretty straightforward.” Most sought funding for hot spot equipment, laptops and tablets, he said.

Libraries that already participate in the FCC’s E-rate program had an easier time navigating the application portal, said American Library Association Senior Fellow Bob Bocher. Those navigating the portal for the first time had "somewhat more of a learning curve,” Bocher said. Fleming said the process was easy for his library, which has long participated in E-rate.

The FCC may open a second application window for prospective purchases because it’s unlikely that the program's full $7 billion has already been requested, Bocher said: “We’re hoping that would maybe take place in the September, October time frame.” The FCC set a goal of reviewing and issuing decisions within 60 days of the Aug. 13 application deadline for “50% of workable applications” and 100 days for 70% of applications, emailed a spokesperson Tuesday. The spokesperson didn’t say whether the commission will open a second application filing window before seeking funding requests for retrospective purchases.

Wisconsin’s Kenosha Public Library applied for more than $73,000 in ECF support to buy Chromebooks, hot spots, modems, routers and mobile data plans. It will “definitely” seek additional funding if a second filing window opens, said Head of Support Services Robert Nunez. The library upgraded its Wi-Fi to let the public access the internet in parking lots and nearby parks during the lockdowns in early 2020, Nunez said, “but there's always room for improvement.”

The Pike County Library “definitely” plans to seek additional funding if the FCC opens a second window, Fleming said: “Hopefully we'll figure out real quick what the demand is going to be.”

Some libraries opted not to participate due to privacy and content filtering requirements, Bocher said. There are a “certain number of libraries that, because of the filtering requirements, simply won’t apply” if the FCC opens up a second application filing window for prospective funding, he said. ALA previously raised concerns about the program’s requirement that applicants maintain records for 10 years and for patron privacy (see 2106140043).

Another deterrent to schools and libraries applying was the timing of the 45-day application filing window, Windhausen said. It was more of a concern for smaller schools because of the summer vacation, he said: “There’s a very, very high level of interest in opening a second window for prospective applications.”