News - April 5, 2021

INCOMPAS Files FCC Comments on Emergency Connectivity Fund

WASHINGTON DC (April 5, 2021) -- INCOMPAS, the internet and competitive networks association, filed comments today at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) for educational connections and devices.

In its comments, INCOMPAS advocates for a neutral set of rules that foster a pro-competition approach to the ECF. This would speed implementation and help teachers, students and parents address the Homework Gap and promote remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

In the filing, INCOMPAS stresses key factors for success, including:

  • Streamline and simplify the application process for eligible schools and libraries for funding for eligible equipment and services;
  • Encourage a competitively neutral approach so that eligible schools and libraries can access the devices and services that best meet their students’ and patrons’ needs;
  • Allow for the reimbursement of service and equipment provided as of January 27, 2020.
  • Looking to the future, the FCC should interpret “advanced telecommunications and information services” to include any services that support advanced internet connectivity, including cloud computing services.
In addition to the filing, Lindsay Stern, INCOMPAS attorney and policy advisor, released the following statement:

“The Emergency Connectivity Fund has the potential to unlock the future of education, and address the Homework Gap that has hurt millions of American families. We are encouraging the FCC to look to the future with a set of technology neutral rules for the ECF that promote competition and streamlining for a faster more robust roll out that provides teachers, students, library patrons and families with a wide range of options to address the Homework Gap and remote learning challenges.”