Emergency Connectivity Fund
The Emergency Connectivity Fund is a $7.17 billion program funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to help schools and libraries support remote learning. The Program will provide funding to schools and libraries for the reasonable costs of eligible equipment and services that can be provided to students, teachers, and library patrons who lack connected devices, such as laptop or tablet computers, and/or lack broadband access during the pandemic.
The Eastern Lancaster County SD is looking to apply for this funding for the 21-22 school year. The following are types of equipment that can be purchased for off-campus use by students and school staff:
- Laptop and tablet computers
- Wi-Fi hotspots
- Modems (including air cards)
- Routers
- Devices that combine a modem and router.
The district can also receive funding for commercially available broadband internet service that provides a fixed or mobile broadband connection for off-campus use by students or school staff who would otherwise lack access to connectivity sufficient to engage in remote learning. In addition, the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program may support the construction of new networks and the equipment needed for datacasting services.
For more information regarding the ECF program, please click on this external link to the FCC's website for program guidance: https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-connectivity-fund-faqs