SHLB Commends FCC’s Vote on K-12 and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot
For Immediate Release
Contact: Saskya Cabral
Marketing & PR Director
scabral@shlb.org
SHLB Commends FCC’s Vote on K-12 and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot
Washington, D.C. (June 6, 2024) - Today, the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, the leading advocate for open, affordable broadband access for community anchor institutions, commends the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its formal approval of the $200 million Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program.
“This initiative, aimed at bolstering cybersecurity measures for K-12 schools and libraries, represents a significant step forward in safeguarding student information and protecting school and library networks from cyber-attacks. SHLB has engaged with the FCC on this issue since 2021 through petitions, filings, meetings, and collaborative efforts with other organizations, including CoSN,” said John Windhausen, executive director of SHLB. “Our advocacy efforts have consistently emphasized the urgent need to update the E-rate program to accommodate improved cybersecurity safeguards for K-12 schools and libraries. Our recent comments supported an 18-month pilot with more funding and immediate eligibility for advanced firewalls under E-rate Category 2. Despite our disappointment with the overly long three-year timeline and limited funding, this order is an important step in the right direction.”
SHLB’s 2021 Petition and subsequent comments urged the FCC to make advanced firewalls eligible for E-rate Category 2 support, increase funding levels, and minimize applicants' administrative burdens. In 2023, SHLB filed reply comments emphasizing the importance of addressing cybersecurity needs promptly.
###
About SHLB:
The SHLB Coalition is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) advocacy organization that supports open, affordable, high-quality broadband connections for anchor institutions and their surrounding communities. The SHLB Coalition is based in Washington, D.C. and has a diverse membership of commercial and non-commercial organizations from across the United States. To learn more, visit www.shlb.org.