FCC Chair, Ted Cruz Block Wi-Fi Hotspots for Schoolchildren
▼ Summary
– FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is collaborating with Senator Ted Cruz to block funding for Wi-Fi hotspots for schoolchildren.
– Cruz previously convinced the Senate to kill the FCC’s hotspot program, though his proposal did not pass the House of Representatives.
– Carr is now pushing for a vote to reverse what he calls unlawful, Biden-era decisions that spent taxpayer dollars on unsupervised screen time for kids.
– Cruz alleges the program endangered children, duplicated existing federal funding, and violated the law.
– Cruz urges the House to pass his resolution to prevent the program or similar rules from being revived in the future.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has joined forces with Senator Ted Cruz of Texas in an effort to block federal funding for Wi-Fi hotspots intended for schoolchildren. This move targets a program established during the Biden administration, which aimed to provide internet access to students in need.
In May, Senator Cruz successfully persuaded the Senate to terminate the FCC’s hotspot initiative. Although his proposal did not advance through the House of Representatives, Chairman Carr is now taking administrative steps to halt the program’s execution. A recent announcement from Carr’s office stated that he has requested a commission vote to reverse what he termed “unlawful, Biden-era decisions” that allocated taxpayer funds toward what he described as “unsupervised screen time for kids” without adequately considering potential risks.
Carr coordinated closely with Cruz ahead of the public statement. The FCC’s press release included remarks from the senator, who asserted that the program “endangered kids, duplicated existing federal funding, and violated the law.” Cruz had earlier introduced a resolution of disapproval in the Senate, which aimed to prevent the FCC from reinstating a similar rule in the future. While Carr’s current action would not permanently bar a future commission from reviving the program, Cruz continues to push for House approval of his resolution to ensure the initiative cannot be restarted.
In the official release, Cruz commended Carr’s efforts and urged Congress to take further action. “Kudos to Chairman Carr for moving to undo the Biden hotspot program and protect children,” Cruz stated, “but now it’s time for Congress to step up and codify this change.” He emphasized the importance of legislative action to prevent what he views as harmful policies from being implemented again.
(Source: Ars Technica)