On May 25, 2022, the FCC announced that it received requests for over $2.8 billion in the third Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) filing window. The FCC estimates that there is $1.5 billion remaining in the ECF program. Since the demand is higher than the available funds, the FCC noted that applications will be prioritized to fund schools and libraries with the greatest need first, with a preference for schools and libraries located in rural areas.
FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel released a statement saying, “The continued interest in the Emergency Connectivity Fund demonstrates what we’ve known for a long time – far too many kids across the country need off-campus support to get online and keep up with their schoolwork. This program has been able to help millions of students over the past year and into the coming school year. I’m proud of that. We received more requests than Congress gave us funds to support for this final round of applications, so we’re prioritizing those with the greatest need. But the work doesn’t stop there. We’ll continue to look for ways to close the Homework Gap and ensure no child is left offline.”
The FCC’s news brief can be viewed here.
