The FCC has released a helpful one-page guide that gives you all of the information you need to know in order to apply for the Emergency Connectivity Fund program, which was created by federal stimulus legislation to help schools and libraries purchase educational technology! The deadline to apply for these funds is August 13, 2021.
View the guide here: https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/ecf_how_to_apply_overview_guide.pdf
WEMTA is strongly encouraging all of our members to consider applying for Emergency Connectivity Funds available through the federal stimulus bill. These funds are specifically meant to help schools and libraries support the remote learning needs for students and staff. Devices purchased through the program can be used off-campus! Schools have until August 13, 2021 to submit applications.
How Much Funding is Available: $7.17 billion
Who Can Apply: Schools, libraries, and consortia of schools and libraries that are eligible for support under the FCC's E-Rate program.
Eligible Purchases: Laptops and tablets; Wi-Fi hotspots; Modems; Routers; Devices that Combine Modems and Routers.
Timeframe from Purchases: This round of funding covers eligible purchases made between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.
Application Deadline: August 13, 2021
Where to Apply: https://www.emergencyconnectivityfund.org/
Learn more: https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-connectivity-fund-faqs
The following items of interest to WEMTA are included in the budget bill:
Governor Evers signed the 2021-23 state budget bill into law on Thursday, July 8, 2021. He made 50 partial vetoes to the bill as passed by the Legislature before signing it. Most significantly, Governor Evers vetoed a proposed $550 million lapse from the general fund to the budget stabilization fund and called on the Legislature to work with him to instead use these funds to address immediate needs of Wisconsinites. He also announced that he will be investing more than $100 million in federal stimulus into K-12 schools.
You can see the Governor's full veto message here.
The following items of interest to WEMTA are included in the budget as signed into law.
WISELearn: Reduce funding for WISELearn by $150,000 in 2021-22 and by $200,000 in 2022-23.
Library Service Contracts: Increase funding for the library service contracts by $12,900 in 2021-22 and by $25,300 in 2022-23 to fully fund the costs of the contracts. The following organizations receive library service contracts: the Milwaukee Public Library; the University of Wisconsin-Madison; the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library; and the Cooperative Children's Book Center.
Public Library System Aid: Increase public library system aid by $2.5 million in 2021-22 and by $4 million in 2022-23.Wisconsin Reading Corps: Increase funding for Wisconsin Reading Corps by $300,000 in 2021-22 and by an additional $1.3 million in 2022-23.
The Governor's Task Force on Broadband Access released its final report this week. WEMTA Legislative Chair Emily Dittmar was a member of the Task Force. Thank you, Emily, for your service!
"All Wisconsinites should have broadband sufficient to successfully participate in society, including but not limited to, health, economic, and educational opportunities," states the Task Force.
According to the FCC, about 394,000 Wisconsinites currently lack access to broadband meeting the minimum speed goals of 25/3 Mbps. These estimates are likely underreported due to weaknesses in the current FCC mapping process. A study performed by BroadbandNow estimates that 670,592 Wisconsinites lack access to 25/3 broadband speeds. It is further estimated that about 10% of Wisconsin households do not have any type of computer (desktop, laptop, tablet, e-reader) in the home, and over 500,000 households do not have a desktop or laptop computer.
The report makes the following recommendations.
Speed Goals and Timelines
