(TNS) — Each of Lancaster County’s 17 public school districts saves hundreds of thousands of dollars each year through the federal E-Rate Program, which offers Internet service at discounted rates, but that program, currently under review by the Federal Communications Commission, could face significant cuts.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has said he wants to ensure children are better protected when using the E-Rate Program’s funded networks, including limiting screen time. The FCC review of the program could result in completely winding the program down or restricting its Internet service discounts to rural schools (only five schools of Lancaster County).
Losing the discount that helps districts supply buildings with Internet service wouldn’t mean “switching off the digital lights,” Penn Manor Chief Information Officer Charlie Reisinger said, but it would mean absorbing the costs by way of cuts to other district services or an increase in taxes…