Restore Federal Funding for Library Wi‑Fi Hotspot Lending Programs

Restore federal funding for the library Wi‑Fi hotspot lending program that provides essential internet access to families that lack broadband at home. Libraries are lifelines. Across the country, public libraries operate mobile Wi‑Fi hotspots that allow thousands of residents—especially students in rural and low‑income communities—to connect to the internet for schoolwork, job searches, telehealth, and civic participation. But in October 2025 the FCC voted 2‑1 to eliminate the hotspot‑lending funds, removing the $27.5 million that schools and libraries were counting on for FY 2025. Reinstate federal funding for the hotspot‑lending program (or create a comparable grant mechanism) so that libraries can continue to provide filtered internet access to students and families in rural and underserved communities lacking home broadband. Support remote learning, telehealth, job training, and civic engagement for all citizens. Restoring this funding aligns with our nation’s commitment to equal educational opportunity and ensures that no child is left behind because of an internet gap.