Webinar: The E-rate HotSpot Opportunity: Interpreting the FCC's HotSpot Lending Order for Schools and Libraries
Event Details
On July 29, the FCC adopted a final Order allowing schools and libraries to obtain E-rate funding for hotspot devices and service off-campus.
The Order, which SHLB supports, is intended to bring affordable wireless internet to low-income communities.
The FCC's decision will build upon the Congressionally-funded Emergency Connectivity Fund, which has now expired. The new FCC Order, however, is more limited in scope and has several new rules, including a multi-year budget.
This webinar will interpret the Order, review the timeline for applications, and take a detailed look at how schools and libraries can maximize the benefits of this important program.
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Speakers:
Dr. Kiesha King Senior National Education Administrator, T-Mobile
Dr. Kiesha King is a passionate advocate for digital equity and ethical technology practices in education. She is currently serving as T-Mobile's Senior National Education Administrator, leading Project 10 Million, a significant $10.7 billion program to bridge the digital divide. With over 20 years of experience reshaping education, she is a five-time published Forbes author with a global readership of over three million. Her work sheds light on critical issues at the intersection of technology and education, extending her influence as she leads national education strategy efforts for both K-12 and Higher Education. Dr. King's remarkable achievements include recognition by the FCC for her role in driving student access and equity, impacting nearly 6 million students with improved access to educational resources. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she actively advocates for children's needs, ensuring their voices are heard in technology and education advancements. Dr. Kiesha King's journey reflects her tireless dedication and profound impact on millions of lives, shaping a brighter future for learners worldwide.
Lauren Abner Chair of E-rate Task Force, Kentucky, Department for Libraries and Archives
Lauren Abner is the State E-rate Coordinator for the Kentucky Department for Libraries & Archives (KDLA), as well as Chair of the ALA E-rate Task Force for 2023-2025. She joined KDLA in 2007 with the Kentucky Talking Book Library and earned her MSLS from the University of Kentucky in 2011. She has assisted ~100 Kentucky public libraries with E-rate filing each year since 2015. She was selected as a 2024 Mover & Shaker by Library Journal.
Gina Spade Principal, Broadband Legal Strategies
Gina Spade spent 13 years at the Federal Communications Commission and more than a decade working on universal service programs, including E-rate and the Rural Health Care programs.
For more than six years, she managed the policy side of the E-rate team in the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB), as an assistant and then deputy division chief in the Telecommunications Access Policy Division. Her major accomplishments during that time include the 2010 Sixth Report and Order, the Learning on the Go pilot project, and was an advisor on the National Broadband Plan. She also oversaw the release of more than a thousand appeals, including major orders such as Bishop Perry.
Most recently, Gina was the deputy chief financial officer for USF program oversight in the Office of the Managing Director (OMD) at the FCC. In that role, she oversaw the Universal Service audit program and the Payment Quality Assurance program for all universal service programs, including E-rate and Rural Health Care. She was the FCC’s project manager for the risk assessment of the E-rate program performed following a recommendation of the Government Accountability Office. Gina worked on numerous cases alleging fraud and developed plans to detect and combat fraud and other program integrity issues. She also was responsible for the agency's compliance with the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act.