The Federal Communications Commission has announced that school buses may be equipped with Wi-Fi access points using Federal E-Rate monies.
The two Republicans on the Commission opposed the declaratory finding, while the three Democrats on the panel supported it. Commissioners Nathan Simington and Brendan Carr both contended that the FCC lacks evidence to support the claim that monies used on school buses to install Wi-Fi access points have been successful in establishing connections amongst students and that utilising E-Rate funds for this purpose may be illegal. “E-Rate may only be used to subsidise internet connectivity for elementary schools, secondary schools, and libraries, and a school bus is neither a school nor a library,” Simington said, labelling the modification as “unlawful.”