Leaders meet at Malden Public Library to discuss benefits of Wi-Fi hotspots

On the morning of Wednesday, July 17, U.S. Senator Ed Markey, State Senator Jason Lewis, Mayor Gary Christenson, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel and representatives from the Boston, Cambridge and Malden Public Libraries met at the Malden Public Library to discuss the benefits of loaning Wi-Fi hotspots from schools and public libraries. The discussion was prompted by a July vote being held by the FCC to determine whether to expand the E-Rate Program to provide funding for schools and public libraries to loan mobile Wi-Fi hotspots to students and patrons. Library staff from Boston, Cambridge and Malden spoke on the benefits of Wi-Fi hotspot lending to patrons and members of the community, and how such lending programs can help bridge digital inequity and provide more opportunities for those who might struggle to afford internet access at home. The FCC vote, which was held in Washington, D.C., the next day on July 18, passed the measure to allow E-Rate funding to be used to purchase and loan mobile Wi-Fi hotspots.

The original E-Rate Program was authored by Senator Markey in 1996 to help provide internet access to schools and libraries across the country. Senator Markey – who was born in Malden, attended Malden Catholic High School and frequented the Malden Public Library growing up – chose the library as the venue for this discussion.

Wi-Fi hotspots can currently be borrowed from the Malden Public Library for three weeks at a time to adults with a valid library card. For questions, call the Malden Public Library at 781-324-0218 or email info@maldenpubliclibrary.org.