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MATSUI URGES FCC TO BOLSTER K-12 CYBERSECURITY IN E-RATE PROGRAM

December 8, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-06) wrote to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, urging her to improve cybersecurity protections for K-12 schools using the FCC’s E-Rate program.

“As cyber incidents targeting K-12 institutions grow more frequent and severe, I write to urge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reevaluate its abilities and limitations in combating this threat,” wrote Congresswoman Matsui. 

The FCC’s E-rate program helps schools and libraries to obtain affordable broadband, but the cybersecurity protections included in the program have not kept up with the growing cyber threat schools face. According to the K-12 Cybersecurity Resource Center, from 2016-2021 there were over 1,200 publicly disclosed cyber incidents across all 50 states. In 2021 alone, amidst remote learning and enhanced levels of digital interaction, there were 166 successful cyber incidents including ransomware, data breaches, and denial-of service attacks, among others.

This September, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the MultiState Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) released a Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) outlining the significant cyber threat facing K-12 institutions. As schools continue to expand the use of digital platforms to engage students, additional resources are needed to enhance cybersecurity and protect personal information.

“In 1999, the FCC added cybersecurity capabilities to the schools and libraries universal service support program (E-rate) […] Since then, firewall technologies and the complexity of cyber threats facing schools have advanced significantly,” Congresswoman Matsui continued. “While the E-rate program must continue to prioritize expanding broadband connections for students, there is still an urgent need to help under resourced schools acquire the cyber protections they need.”

Sacramento’s regional education leaders support the effort:

“Our public schools serve nearly 250,000 students in Sacramento County and employ thousands of teachers and staff. Like other school systems across California and the United States, our networks are under attack daily by cyber criminals that threaten our schools’ use of the Internet, student instructions, our administrative operations, and worst of all, our confidential student and employee data,” said Jerry Jones, Executive Director, Technology Services, Sacramento County Office of Education. “Given the seriousness of this challenge facing all K-12 agencies, we respectfully urge the Commission to permit E-rate applicants in 2023 and beyond to use funds for cybersecurity systems and services.”

“The Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) urges the FCC to update E-rate to better address SCUSD’s public schools’ growing cybersecurity needs,” said Jorge Aguilar, SCUSD Superintendent. “Repelling these near constant attacks requires a combination of expert staffing and modern technology. The costs of these essential human and technology protections, and the insurance for mitigating cyberattack risks, are burdensome for school districts and still rising. This change is necessary to ensure continued consistent delivery of high-speed broadband service to schools and students.”

Congresswoman Matsui has long been a champion of securing our technological future and serves as Chair of the Congressional High-Tech Caucus and Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. She authors the bipartisan Enhancing K-12 Cybersecurity Act, which would promote access to information, better track cyberattacks nationally, and provide increased cybersecurity resources for K-12 schools.

The Enhancing K-12 Cybersecurity Act has been endorsed by:

  • National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
  • National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)
  • Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)
  • National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO)
  • State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA)
  • Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)

The full letter is available HERE.

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