Read The Federal Plan To Expand Wireless Internet Access At Schools

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The Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to vote tomorrow on a plan to emphasize wireless Internet connections.

Tomorrow the Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to vote on a plan that would add $2 billion over two years to help schools and libraries purchase high-speed wireless Internet access.

The plan’s full details are not public, but the agency has published a short summary of the proposed changes.

The plan has three broad goals:

• Expand the amount of grants available to help school purchase and maintain wireless Internet networks.
• Change eligibility to broaden the number of schools and libraries that can receive grants.
• Make the program simpler and faster for participating schools and libraries.

A Republican FCC commissioner and two Democratic senators have questioned the proposal this week. FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai said the plan numbers “don’t add up” and that the changes would mean higher charges on phone bills. U.S. Sen. John D. Rockefeller,  of West Virginia, and Edwrd Markey,  of Massachusetts, were concerned emphasizing wireless would come at the expense of funding for other, wired broadband Internet connections.

Read the FCC plan below: