WASHINGTON — Julie Peller, Executive Director of Higher Learning Advocates, made the following statement to express Higher Learning Advocates’ endorsement of the Supporting Connectivity for Higher Education Students in Need Act, introduced today by Reps. Eshoo, Matsui, Butterfield, Castro, Fudge, Blunt Rochester, and Adams, and Senators Klobuchar, Hirono, Peters, and Rosen:

“Reliable and affordable technology access is crucial for today’s students, particularly as many colleges have moved online during the coronavirus pandemic. Many students, however, may lack access to a stable internet connection or proper equipment, particularly due to the cost.

The Supporting Connectivity for Higher Education Students in Needs Act would create an Emergency Higher Education Connectivity Fund to help institutions provide mobile broadband hotspots to students who need them, with priority given to institutions that enroll a high percentage of Pell-eligible students. This is an important step toward better supporting today’s students as online learning continues.” 

Read the press release from Congresswoman Eshoo’s office here.

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Higher Learning Advocates is a bipartisan non-profit organization that advocates for solutions to break down systemic barriers and support the success of today’s students in their pursuit of education and skills development beyond high school. We advance federal policies that create transparent pathways to success, incentivize innovation, protect students and taxpayers, and improve student outcomes.