Ng explained. “But you’ll need to use all local dollars without any federal support.” CoSN’s Krueger agreed that removing school bus
Wi-Fi and mobile hotspots as eligible services would hamper a useful tool that’s a key part of some districts’ connectivity efforts for students. If that happens, he said his organization urges school transportation leaders to file comments with the FCC opposing the change and highlighting the educational and behavioral benefits of Wi-Fi on school buses. Krueger said he also feels that if the U.S. Supreme Court rules against the current system, the E-rate pro- gram is unlikely to be eliminated outright. “Instead, Congress will most likely step in to modern- ize the funding structure through new legislation,” he noted. “Members of both parties strongly support the Universal Service Fund, which not only helps schools and libraries through E-Rate but also homes and busi- nesses in sparsely populated rural areas, rural health clinics and very low-income households.” He added that such a decision would require a signif-
icant policy debate that could directly affect funding for E-Rate-eligible services, including Wi-Fi on school buses. “School transportation leaders should consider adding
their voice to the debate if the Supreme Court upholds the 5th Circuit’s decision undermining the program,” Krueger said.
Moving Ahead Given the uncertainty of future funding, transporta-
tion leaders face options going forward. For those who see value in the potential offered by school bus Wi-Fi, one strategy might be to move as quickly as possible to qualify while funds are still available. Ellerson Ng at AASA pointed out that even if Wi-Fi
is ruled ineligible for future support, it’s possible funds would still be in the pipeline for the coming school year before a full cutoff could be implemented, potentially for the 2026-2027 school year. Another approach would be to proceed entirely with
local funding. That of course could make Wi-Fi on school buses a harder sell when competing with the many budget demands faced by every school district. Should funding be possible, though, the benefits seem obvious. “If funding is available, school districts should apply
for it to enhance student learning by making school buses an extension of the classroom,” Huish advised. ●
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