Duncan Friends Member Alert - Advocacy Opportunity
Duncan Friends -
I'm writing with a request from the Alexandria Library Board that we do some outreach to our congressional delegation in defense of the E-Rate program, which locally funds hotspots for community members who don't have access to Wi-Fi at home. As early as next week, Congress may vote to permanently cut the Federal Communications Commission’s E-Rate 471 hotspot lending program, so please get your outreach messages sent this week.
Here is contact information for our local congressional delegation:
A suggested template of the message you can send is provided below:
Thank you in advance for your support!
Sincerely,
Jesse O'Connell
Chair, Advocacy Committee
Friends of Duncan Library
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Subject: Please Protect Library Hotspot Funding
Message: I’m writing as a resident of Alexandria to ask you to vote against eliminating the FCC’s E-Rate 471 hotspot lending program.
The Alexandria Library relies on this federal program to provide free Wi-Fi hotspots to residents without home internet access. The City of Alexandria approved $8,000 in the FY26 budget to buy 100 new hotspots, but this purchase depends on the 80% federal discount the program provides.
Hotspots help students complete homework, adults apply for jobs, seniors access telehealth, and families stay connected. Cutting this funding would directly harm people in our community who rely on the library as their only internet source.
Please retain this critical federal support for digital access and equity.
Thank you.
[Your Full Name]
[Your Address or ZIP Code]
[Optional: Your FODL role]
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