Senator Ed Markey to Speak in
E-rate ECF Workshop

Last week, we shared that Acting FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel would kick off the SHLB Coalition's virtual Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) workshop with some opening comments. We are pleased to announce another exciting keynote for the program: U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.).

If Senator Markey's name rings a bell, that might be because he authored the original E-rate program legislation. More recently, he has been one of the strongest advocates for expanding E-rate to connect students at home since the beginning of the pandemic. From introducing the Emergency Educational Connections Act in April 2020 to fighting for the legislation that created the ECF program, Senator Markey is a true champion of school and library broadband.

We look forward to seeing you virtually on June 9, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET!

About the Event

The Federal Communications Commission recently announced the rules to apply for the E-rate Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), an historic opportunity for schools and libraries to connect students and patrons to home broadband. Unlike traditional E-rate funding, the $7 billion ECF program will allow schools and libraries to pay for off-campus connectivity and internet-enabled devices, such as laptops and tablets. Any school or library seeking funding from this program will need to digest a host of new rules in a flash due to the very tight application windows. The SHLB Coalitio n’s ECF workshop will provide schools, libraries, and vendors with the essential strategies and information needed to submit successful funding applications.