New bill would fund hotspots for
students lacking internet access
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
A Queens congresswoman
is introducing a new bill that
will ensure students have internet
access through mobile
hotspot devices to complete
their homework assignments
at home.
Flushing Congresswoman
Grace Meng on Monday, Nov.
25, announced her legislation,
Closing the Homework
Gap Through Mobile Hotspots
Act, which would create a $100
million grant program for
schools, libraries, U.S. territories
and federally recognized
Indian Tribes to purchase mobile
hotspots to help close the
nation’s homework gap.
As many as 12 million
students in the United States
lack internet access at home,
according to Meng, which
creates a barrier to their academic
success. As a result,
students must find public
venues that provide free Wi-
Fi, or miss completing the assignment.
“Every child deserves
their best chance at pursuing
an education, but it breaks
my heart knowing that millions
of kids, every night, are
unable to finish their homework
simply because they
are without internet access,”
Meng said. “Before the internet
became ubiquitous, students
completed their homework
with pencil and paper
— today, that is no longer the
case. My bill is simple and
does not require investing
funds in developing new technologies
to close the ‘homework
gap’; instead, it builds
on and expands existing
infrastructures.”
“Mobile hotspot devices
already exist, and with my
bill, we can get them to more
students who need them. Essentially,
students can ‘check
out’ these mobile hotspots
from their schools or local libraries
— just as they do for
books,” Meng added.
Meng is encouraging her
colleagues in the House to
support the bill and to help
break down barriers to education.
Meanwhile, supporters
of the congresswoman are applauding
her efforts to bridge
the divide and make sure no
child is left behind.
“We applaud Congresswoman
Meng’s commitment
to closing the homework gap
to ensure all students have the
access they need to continue
learning and doing homework
— especially after the school
day ends,” said Marc Egan,
Director of Government at
the National Education Association.
“With more than 70
percent of educators assigning
school work that requires
the Internet, our educators
and students experience firsthand
the challenges created
in teaching and learning. A
solution as simple as mobile
hotspots for students would
go a long way in closing this
inequitable homework gap.”
Wanda Brown, president
of the American Library Association,
said more hotspots
Photo via Getty Images
in the nation’s 120,000 libraries
is the surest way to make
progress in achieving digital
equity across the country.
“As America’s premier
hubs of lifelong learning for
all, libraries are uniquely positioned
to bridge the digital
divide,” Brown said. “Many
offer fee-free Wi-Fi 24/7 and
parking for users after hours.
Many also lend hotspots —
but we can’t keep enough of
them on our shelves to meet
the demand in our communities.
The American Library
Association couldn’t be more
pleased that Rep. Meng and
the long list of cosponsors
have a plan to fill that need
through the Closing the
Homework Gap Through Mobile
Hotspots Act.”
Jessica Rosenworcei, commissioner
of the Federal Communications
Commission
(FCC) added that wireless
hotspots can help children
get online, do research, learn
new ideas, download assignments
and communicate with
their teachers — in short,
helping them to succeed.
“It’s on us to ensure that
every child has a fair shot at
that success,” Rosenworcei
said.
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@
schnepsmedia.com or
by phone at (718) 260–4526.
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