[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 86 (Thursday, May 24, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2934-S2935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. UDALL (for himself and Mr. Gardner):
  S. 2958. A bill to require the Federal Communications Commission to 
make the provision of Wi-Fi access on school

[[Page S2935]]

buses eligible for E-rate support; to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. UDALL. Mr. President, the Federal Communications Commission 
Schools and Libraries program, commonly known as E-Rate, has helped 
connect our schools and libraries to highspeed broadband. Recent 
changes allowed for schools to pay for Wi-Fi on campuses, recognizing 
that students are using laptops and other devices for learning. This 
bill, cosponsored by my friend Senator Gardner, would allow schools to 
receive reimbursement for Wi-Fi on school buses--an idea inspired by a 
New Mexico high school student. A few years ago, a football player from 
Hatch Valley High School in Hatch, New Mexico told me how, after being 
on a bus for hours after a game, he would sit in the dark parking lot 
of his school doing his homework--because he didn't have high-speed 
broadband at home. Making Wi-Fi available on school buses is one piece 
to solving the homework gap--especially in rural areas. Adequate 
internet is an absolute necessity in this day and age. And I will 
continue to work with my colleagues to make sure every home in the 
Nation has adequate internet access.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2958

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. E-RATE SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL BUS WI-FI.

       (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``school bus'' 
     means a passenger motor vehicle that is--
       (1) designed to carry a driver and not less than 5 
     passengers; and
       (2) used significantly to transport early child education, 
     elementary school, or secondary school students to or from 
     school or an event related to school.
       (b) Rulemaking.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission 
     shall conduct a rulemaking to make the provision of Wi-Fi 
     access on school buses eligible for support under the E-rate 
     program of the Commission set forth under subpart F of part 
     54 of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations.
                                 ______