Cruz: Don’t Give WiFi Hotspots To Poor Kids Because They May Be Blocked From “Conservative Viewpoints”

Ars Technica reports:

US Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is trying to block a plan to distribute Wi-Fi hotspots to schoolchildren, claiming it will lead to unsupervised Internet usage, endanger kids, and possibly restrict kids’ exposure to conservative viewpoints.

“The government shouldn’t be complicit in harming students or impeding parents’ ability to decide what their kids see by subsidizing unsupervised access to inappropriate content,” Cruz said.

Cruz, chairman of the Commerce Committee, yesterday announced a resolution that would nullify the hotspot rule issued by the FCC. The FCC voted to adopt the rule in July 2024 under then-Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, saying it was needed to help kids without reliable Internet access complete their homework.

From Cruz’s press release:

Since the FCC does not require schools to obtain parental consent before distributing federally-subsidized hotspots, the program risks undermining parents’ ability to control the content their kids can access online.

By shifting control from parents to schools, the order also heightens the risk of censoring kids’ exposure to conservative viewpoints.

The FCC’s order lacks mean-testing to target children who may not have internet at home, and allows for duplication of service in areas where the federal government is already subsidizing broadband.

Thirteen Republicans have so far signed on as cosponsors. “Means testing” is GOP-speak for “prove you’re poor enough to deserve this.”



Senator Ted Cruz is trying to block Wi-Fi hotspots for schoolchildren. Cruz: Hotspot lending could “censor kids’ exposure to conservative viewpoints.” arstechnica.com/tech-policy/…

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— Doug Mirams (@dmirams.bsky.social) January 29, 2025 at 8:24 AM