On March 26th, the Supreme Court of the United States heard arguments regarding the Universal Service Fund (USF) which provides funding to school districts for internet access and network connectivity through E-rate.
Nick Lapp, IMESD's Chief Information Officer, said that disruption to E-rate would cause a significant impact to students’ access to digital educational resources, which is the foundation of a 21st century education. Lapp provided a statement about this issue that was read at a press conference about protecting USF. His statement was not part of the argument testimony, but was read outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.
Lapp's statement: “Bringing fiber internet to ten small rural districts in Eastern Oregon to replace slow and unreliable wireless connections simply wouldn't have been possible without E-rate funding. This investment has opened previously unimaginable educational opportunities for children in these communities, profoundly impacting their future. Ongoing E-rate support keeps this vital connectivity affordable, allowing districts to dedicate more resources directly to classrooms and student learning.”
The entire press conference can be viewed on Facebook at this link:https://www.facebook.com/events/s/shlb-live-keep-our-communities/1164461721534018/
Nick Lapp