The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering whether to end or restrict a nearly 30-year-old program that helps schools and public libraries afford internet connectivity.
According to a June 2026 press release from the American Library Association (ALA), the FCC voted to advance a proposal examining whether E-Rate should be terminated or limited to rural areas. The program provides funding to eligible schools and libraries to help make broadband more affordable.
The ALA and Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition partners launched the Save Our E-Rate campaign, warning that cuts could disproportionately affect lower-income communities that rely on the program to support essential school and library connectivity.
Libraries Could Face Budget Decisions
Jamar Rahming, president of the Public Library Association and CEO of the Cuyahoga County Public Library (CCPL) in Ohio, told AFROTECH™ that libraries can’t simply eliminate high-speed internet if federal support disappears.
“Giving up high-speed internet is not an option for libraries. If E-Rate were to be terminated, all libraries that get E-Rate funding, including CCPL, would need to consider other budgetary reductions to offset the loss of this funding,” Rahming said. “…The irony is, the communities that will most suffer are the very ones for whom Congress passed E-Rate to begin with 30 years ago.”
E-Rate also supports internet-dependent library operations, from security systems and online catalogs to communications and grant applications. According to Rahming, that connectivity can be equally critical for patrons.
“If libraries were no longer able to afford to offer free high-speed internet, it would only deepen the current digital divide,” Rahming told AFROTECH™. “We have many customers who rely on our internet service because they cannot afford high-speed internet at home or they do not have sufficient coverage.”
Those patrons include students completing online homework, job seekers submitting applications, remote workers attending virtual meetings, seniors on a fixed income, and others who may not have reliable internet access elsewhere.
Libraries Play A Role In Workforce And Digital Access
The potential changes to E-Rate also come as libraries increasingly provide services tied to digital literacy, employment, and education.
“Libraries are a cornerstone in the community and an important part of workforce development. Workforce development doesn’t start when a person submits a job application; it starts when they learn to read,” Rahming said.
As AFROTECH™ previously reported, incarcerated individuals also benefit from such access, which can help them return to their communities and reenter the workforce. The ALA has backed the Prison Libraries Act, which would provide $60 million over six years to expand state prison libraries and access to digital literacy, career training, computers, and educational technology.
What The Changes Could Mean For Black Communities
When asked specifically about the potential effect of losing E-Rate on Black communities, Rahming placed the issue alongside other changes affecting education and incarceration.
“There are many changes that are happening, from funding cuts to issues in education and incarceration. All these things have a compounding effect that creates greater disparities, especially for Black communities,” Rahming told AFROTECH™.
The range of services libraries provide include free high-speed internet and public computers, classes for justice-involved individuals, resources for people learning English or pursuing GEDs, and meal programs for children.
E-Rate’s Future Remains Under Review
According to the ALA press release, when asked, the FCC did not remove language from its proposal that could limit or end E-Rate. However, the agency did extend the public comment period, giving stakeholders more time to respond to the proceeding.
Rahming described E-Rate as part of the larger infrastructure surrounding digital access.
“E-Rate is a critical part of digital equity in this country,” he said. “We cannot have communities that move forward without access to information and resources and personal help to find it, and that is what libraries are here for. E-Rate is another tool that allows us to be successful in our mission.”
