CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The Chillicothe & Ross County Public Library (CRCPL) is urgently calling on the community to help protect a 30-year-old federal program that ensures local schools and libraries can afford high-speed broadband internet.
The alert comes in response to a June 25, 2026, proposal by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that could significantly scale back or completely eliminate the E-Rate program, a critical funding mechanism established by Congress under the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
E-Rate provides discounts ranging from 20 to 90 percent on internet and networking costs for more than 100,000 schools and 11,000 libraries nationwide, prioritizing the highest discounts for institutions serving low-income communities.
What is at Stake for Ross County?
At CRCPL, E-Rate funding directly subsidizes the internet infrastructure required for public computers, building-wide Wi-Fi, and essential network security. The library notes that the community’s reliance on these services is massive. In 2025 alone:
- More than 17,000 patrons utilized the library’s public computers.
- Nearly 165,000 users connected to the library’s free public Wi-Fi network.
“Reliable internet access is no longer an optional library service—it’s essential to education, employment, healthcare, government services, and everyday life,” said Jennifer Slone, CRCPL Access Director. “E-Rate has made it possible for libraries like ours to provide these services while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
The ‘Mission Accomplished’ Debate
The FCC’s justification for cutting the program centers on the belief that E-Rate’s primary mission has been achieved, pointing out that nearly all U.S. schools and libraries now possess broadband access. However, library officials argue that this perspective ignores the ongoing, compounding costs of modern technological infrastructure.
“Building a network is only the beginning,” Slone countered. “Bandwidth demands continue to grow, equipment requires regular replacement, and cybersecurity threats continue to evolve. Ending E-Rate because broadband exists today would be like deciding to stop maintaining roads because they’ve already been built.”
If the federal funding is stripped away, cash-strapped schools and libraries will be forced to absorb the full cost of internet equipment and monthly service fees, potentially forcing difficult budget cuts to staffing, programming, and local operations.
Hotspot Lending Program Set to End
The financial strain of maintaining digital equity is already hitting home. CRCPL announced that its popular public Wi-Fi hotspot lending program will officially conclude after October 2026 due to a lack of sustainable funding.
The initiative initially expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic using temporary federal funds, providing hundreds of portable internet devices to Ross County families. While the library attempted to keep a smaller collection active using its own budget, rising equipment and monthly service fees have made it financially unsustainable. CRCPL applied for expanded E-Rate funding in 2025 after the FCC initially signaled support for off-premises hotspot lending, but the expansion was later rescinded and the funding requests were denied.
“Our hotspot collection has consistently had waiting lists that often stretch beyond a month,” Slone said, noting that the demand highlights a persistent digital divide in the community.
Call to Action for Residents
In response to separate concerns raised by the FCC regarding youth screen time, CRCPL clarified that its public technology is focused on equitable access to educational and informational resources, noting that parents and guardians retain the responsibility of guiding their children’s recreational device usage.
Library officials are strongly encouraging residents who value local, affordable broadband access to contact their federal representatives and express support for preserving the E-Rate program.
To learn more about the national advocacy effort or to easily contact federal legislators, community members can visit www.shlb.org/save-our-e-rate.
