Luján Statement on Republican Resolution to Strip Internet Access from Millions of Students and Educators

Luján Joined Press Conference Ahead of Senate Republicans’ Vote, Highlighted Impact on New Mexico Students

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee, issued the following statement on Senate Republicans’ vote to strip internet access from millions of students and educators:

“Across the country, the E-Rate program has helped connect countless students to the internet they need to succeed in today’s world – especially in the most rural parts of America. Under the FCC’s Wi-Fi hotspots rule, schools and libraries across America can provide Wi-Fi hotspots to students and educators to use at home.

“Senate Republicans just passed a partisan resolution that would rob New Mexico students and educators of the very tools they need to succeed. When we should be increasing connectivity, my Republican colleagues are working to limit it. If this resolution is signed into law, New Mexico schools and libraries that have applied for Wi-Fi spots through the E-Rate program will be rejected.”

Earlier today, Senator Luján joined U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and advocates at a press conference on Republican attempts to gut low-income, rural, and Tribal students’ access to Wi-Fi internet hotspots. Following the press conference, Senate Republicans voted to pass a Congressional Review Act resolution that overturns a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule allowing schools and libraries to use their E-Rate funds to loan Wi-Fi hotspots to students and educators.  

In New Mexico, 40% of students lack access to high-speed broadband. Nationwide, studies have estimated between 9 million to 15 million U.S. students lack adequate internet access at home. Since 2020, the FCC’s E-Rate program has committed over $174 million in support to New Mexico schools and libraries.

Schools and libraries in New Mexico that have applied for Wi-Fi hotspots through the E-Rate program include:

·         David F. Cargo El Valle De Anton Chico Library

·         Farmington Municipal School District 5

·         Grants Public Library

·         Lake Valley Navajo School

·         Ojo Encino Day School

·         Taos Day School

·         Taos Municipal School District

As Ranking Member of the Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, Senator Luján is a strong champion for 100% broadband connectivity. In the 118th Congress, Senator Luján introduced the bipartisan Tribal Connect Act to make it easier for Tribes to secure high-speed internet access at Tribal Essential Community-Serving Institutions through the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF) Schools and Libraries Program, or E-Rate program. In the 117th Congress, Senator Luján introduced legislation to help close the homework gap by equipping school buses with Wi-Fi technology and improving financing options for broadband deployment.

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