WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 14, 2026) – CoSN — The Consortium for School Networking yesterday filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opposing its proposal to potentially terminate or materially reduce the E-Rate program. CoSN urged the Commission to instead preserve and modernize E-Rate, emphasizing that reliable, secure broadband remains essential to teaching, learning, and school operations and that decisions about how technology is used in the classroom should remain with educators, school leaders, and families.
CoSN emphasized that E-Rate’s success connecting schools should not be mistaken for evidence that its work is complete. Broadband is a recurring expense, network equipment must be maintained and replaced, and schools’ connectivity needs continue to grow. At the same time, CoSN urged the FCC to maintain a clear distinction between broadband infrastructure policy and instructional policy, arguing that decisions about classroom technology use are best made by educators, administrators, locally elected school boards, and families.
“E-Rate has been successful because it has provided schools with the reliable connectivity they need to serve students and educators,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN. “That success is not a reason to pull back. As technology becomes more deeply integrated into teaching, learning, and school operations, schools need networks that are not only fast and reliable, but secure and resilient. The FCC should build on what works by preserving E-Rate and modernizing it to meet the needs of today’s schools.”
As part of that modernization, CoSN urged the FCC to make appropriate cybersecurity products and services permanently eligible for E-Rate support and to support reasonable redundant or backup connectivity where needed for network resilience. The filing argues that the FCC’s Cybersecurity Pilot is an important step, but network security is an ongoing need that must be directly addressed by the E-rate program.
CoSN notes that technology is integrated into assessments, accessibility tools, individualized interventions, curricular materials, communications, and other routine school functions. The filing points to the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) as an existing federal framework for protecting students from harmful online material while preserving local responsibility for instructional decisions.
CoSN remains focused on ensuring K-12 education technology centers on student learning, protects students online and is guided by transparent, local decision-making. To learn more about CoSN’s Purposeful Education Technology initiative, visit: www.cosn.org/purposeful-edtech
Read CoSN’s full comments here.
About CoSN
CoSN, the world-class professional association for K-12 education technology leaders, stands at the forefront of education innovation. We are driven by a mission to equip current and aspiring K-12 education technology leaders, their teams, and school districts with the community, knowledge, and professional development they need to cultivate engaging learning environments. Our vision is rooted in a future where every learner reaches their unique potential, guided by our community. CoSN represents over 2,000 school districts and 14 million students and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education. www.cosn.orgwww.cosn.org
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