This is a great discussion. I wanted to share another example of PPA's coalition work.
ALA recently joined with PK-12 partner organizations to file a petition with the FCC, organized by the Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband Consortium to extend E-rate for off-campus learning. Coalition advocacy amplifies our voice and sometimes it is appropriate for ALA to take the lead, and other times, partner organizations do so. Who takes the lead is a strategic decision based upon the best chances for success.
https://www.shlb.org/uploads/Policy/E-rate/SHLB%20et%20al.%20Remote%20Learnng%20Petition%201-26-21%20FINAL.pdf
From the SHLB newsletter:
On January 26, SHLB led a coalition of education advocates in petitioning the Federal Communications Commission to enable E-rate funding for off-campus learning. If granted, the petition will empower schools and libraries to connect the 15 to 16 million K-12 students lacking home internet access by extending their networks without jeopardizing E-rate dollars.
The coalition of education advocates includes the American Library Association (ALA), the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), the National School Boards Association (NSBA), the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), the State E-rate Coordinators' Alliance (SECA), the Urban Libraries Council (ULC), the Wireless Future Project at New America, and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Here's a timeline of updates on the off-campus connectivity issue:
- January 26: SHLB petition filed.
- February 1: FCC seeks comment on SHLB petition, with Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel issuing a statement in support of updating E-rate as SHLB proposes.
- February 4: Senator Ed Markey, D-Mass., leads 36 senators in a letterurging the FCC to leverage the E-rate program for remote learning connectivity and devices.
- February 12: House Commerce Committee votes to include $7.6 billion in E-rate remote learning funding in the filibuster-proof https://shlb.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b8f06a885587335ee5c6b1717&id=eb266021a0&e=c954d4a55e Click to follow link.">reconciliation language for the next COVID-19 relief package.
- February 16: Dozens of companies, anchor institutions, public interest groups, and other organizations signal their support for the SHLB petition.
Next steps: You can file reply comments in support of SHLB's E-rate petition by February 23 here.
Thanks,
Ann
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Many Indigenous peoples, including the Apsáalooke (Crow), Niimiipuu (Nez Perce), Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (Lakota), Piikani (Blackfeet), Seliš (Salish), Shoshone, and Tsétsêhéstâhese (Northern Cheyenne), have traditional claims to the lands upon which Montana State University (MSU) physically sits. Indigenous histories and perspectives inform my work.
Ann Dutton Ewbank, PhD
Associate Professor and Department Head
Director, School Library Media Certificate Program
Department of Education
College of Education, Health and Human Development
Montana State University
(406) 994-5788
http://www.annewbank.com
ann.ewbank@montana.edu