Attorney General Jeff Jackson Fights to Protect Funding for Internet Access in Rural Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Contact: comms@ncdoj.gov
919-538-2809

RALEIGH — Attorney General Jeff Jackson is urging the federal government to maintain the E-Rate program, which helps fund internet access for schools and libraries across the country. Nearly half of the schools that receive funding in North Carolina are in rural areas.

“North Carolina relies on this federal aid to keep our schools running, especially our rural schools,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “Getting rid of this money would harm our kids and break the law. That’s why we’re telling the federal government to keep it in place.”

“E-Rate keeps North Carolina’s classrooms connected, from rural communities to our biggest cities,” said North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green. “Our schools count on it for instruction, safety and day-to-day operations. Protecting this funding means protecting students’ access to learning.”

Attorney General Jackson and a coalition of 22 other attorneys general filed a comment letter with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging it to preserve the federal E-Rate program. The FCC is proposing major changes to the program, which could include eliminating the program entirely, significantly cutting it back, or conditioning funding on education policies. The attorneys general argue that such changes would be harmful and illegal.

Congress approved the E-Rate program in 1996 and has since ensured that schools and libraries have access to internet and other telecommunications services at discounted rates. The program provides $3 billion a year to discount the cost of internet for schools and libraries across the United States. North Carolina received more than $54 million through the E-Rate program this year and has received more than $1 billion in E-Rate discounts since 1998. Nearly 2,800 of the state’s public and private schools and more than 200 libraries received funding in 2024, according to the latest data from the FCC.

Schools rely on this funding to set up and maintain high-speed internet access, which helps students and teachers access curriculum, lesson plans, and software. Schools also rely on internet access for security, HVAC systems, food services, and other operations. Without E-Rate, school districts would bear the cost of expanding and maintaining broadband infrastructure. Eliminating or cutting the program could reduce internet access and lead to cuts in schools.

The attorneys general argue in the letter that the FCC does not have the authority to eliminate E-Rate because E-Rate is a Congressionally mandated program. Additionally, the coalition argues that significantly narrowing E-Rate services or conditioning funding on education policies exceed the FCC’s authority and be arbitrary and capricious.

Attorney General Jackson is joined in sending the letter by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

A copy of the letter can be found here.

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