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The State E-Rate Coordinators Alliance told the FCC it opposes a ...

The State E-Rate Coordinators Alliance told the FCC it opposes a proposal by Verizon and Verizon Wireless that any-time any-place wireless Internet access should be an eligible service for USF reimbursement (WID June 25 p6). “SECA believed, and still…

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believes, that this proposal represented a major change in E-rate funding and purpose that was so far beyond the scope of the draft [Eligible Services List] process as to not require a reply comment,” the group said in comments filed at the FCC. “However, given supporting reply comments by Qualcomm and the San Diego Unified School District, SECA believes it is important for the Commission to recognize that there is far from universal support for greatly expanded eligibility of wireless Internet services.” The statutory intent of the E-rate program was limited to providing Internet access to schools and libraries, SECA said: “The intention was not to support Internet access, whatever the technology, to all Americans -- as would be implied by providing wireless Internet access for any and all students and library patrons.”