ELDRED – The Eldred Central School District was one of several upstate NY school districts that were recipients of a grant from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Emergency Connectivity Fund. They received $60,000.

“We used the funds to provide connected devices to students who otherwise could not afford such a device,”  Eldred Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Morgano told the Democrat.

U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) secured the $1.6 million to help five upstate schools connect to broadband.

The funding can be used to purchase devices and help end the digital divide. Delgado voted to create this fund via the American Rescue Plan.

“Every student should have reliable internet access,” said Rep. Delgado. “This first round of Emergency Connectivity Fund grants will help upstate schools close the digital divide and end the homework gap that disproportionately affects rural communities. I was proud to support the creation of this essential program and will keep fighting until every resident of New York's 19th Congressional District has quality and affordable internet access.”

Interested applicants can still seek program funding. A second application filing window opened on Tuesday and closes on October 13.

It will provide funding for eligible equipment and services received or delivered between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. The funding is available for the purchase of laptops and tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and broadband connections for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons in need, and is available to support off-campus learning, such as homework and virtual learning as schools continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additional information on the Emergency Connectivity Fund program is available at: www.emergencyconnectivityfund.org. The program is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company, with oversight from and under rules unanimously adopted by the Federal Communications Commission.