1. United States
2. R.I.
3. Letter

Maintaining essential communications infrastructure for schools and libraries The issue - The Federal Communications Commission is reviewing E-Rate, which helps eligible schools and libraries pay for Internet service, network equipment, internal connections, and maintenance. The FCC is considering whether to limit or end the program because most schools and libraries are now connected. For Rhode Island, E-Rate remains essential to making this infrastructure affordable to build, operate, maintain, and upgrade. Rhode Island has millions of dollars at stake. Recent analysis shows substantial FY2026 E-Rate commitments, including: |Rhode Island recipient |Identified FY2026 E-Rate commitment| |---------------------------------------|----------------------------------:| |Providence School District |$1,428,947 | |Bristol Warren Regional School District|$367,958 | |Warwick School Department |$343,707 | |Middletown Public Schools |$241,305 | |East Greenwich Public Schools |$197,169 | |North Smithfield School District |$142,552 | |Woonsocket Education Department |$98,501 | |Cumberland School District |$76,781+ | |South Kingstown School District |$55,964 | |North Providence School District |$48,617 | |Pawtucket School Department |$44,160 | |Providence Community Library |$13,674 | |Providence Athenaeum |$5,850 | |Redwood Library |$5,814 | These funds support ongoing Internet service, network connections, equipment, and maintenance. Because FY2026 remains active, amounts may change as appeals and administrative adjustments are processed. Ending E-Rate would shift costs, not eliminate them - Schools and libraries would still need these services if E-Rate ended. They would have to replace federal support with local or state funds, reduce services, delay upgrades, or cut other programs. Warwick, for example, has approximately $343,707 in identified FY2026 E-Rate commitments. Maintaining the same eligible services without E-Rate would require finding roughly that amount elsewhere. The burden would be greatest for institutions with the greatest financial need. Some Rhode Island funding requests, including those for Providence and Woonsocket, receive 90 percent discounts. For a $100,000 eligible service, E-Rate would cover about $90,000; without it, the institution would need to absorb that cost or reduce the service. Rhode Island’s state and federal system - Rhode Island’s Telecommunications Education Access Fund, or RITEAF, supplements federal assistance for schools and public libraries. The Rhode Island Department of Education describes these supported resources as the backbone of a statewide school network. Ending E-Rate would disrupt this combined state-federal financing system and shift more costs to school districts, libraries, municipalities, and taxpayers. Connectivity requires ongoing investment- Being connected today does not guarantee affordable service tomorrow. Internet subscriptions recur, equipment must be replaced, bandwidth needs grow, and cybersecurity and network requirements change. Connectivity achieved is not connectivity permanently financed. Screen-time concerns should be addressed through instructional policies, safety protections, and local decision-making—not by weakening the infrastructure needed for administration, accessibility, safety, research, instruction, and public service. Rhode Island’s position-We call on the FCC and Congress to: 1. preserve E-Rate as an ongoing federal commitment; 2. reject proposals to end the program or restrict it geographically; 3. maintain larger discounts for institutions with the greatest financial need; 4. continue supporting Internet service and essential internal network infrastructure; and 5. strengthen oversight without undermining E-Rate’s core purpose. E-Rate’s success in connecting Rhode Island schools and libraries is a reason to sustain the program, not withdraw the financing that keeps those connections affordable.