​The North American Catholic Educational Programming Foundation (NACEPF) and its affiliate, Mobile Beacon, are voicing strong support for a petition filed by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and other advocacy groups that calls for expanded eligibility within the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) E-Rate program.

This petition seeks to extend the program’s benefits beyond Wi-Fi hotspots such as on school buses to include other devices that can provide off-campus connectivity, a critical component the group says can address the nation’s persistent digital divide.

Read the full story at stnonline.com

The North American Catholic Educational Programming Foundation, Inc. (NACEPF) and Mobile Beacon advocate for flexible, data-driven policies within the E-Rate Program’s recent expansion to close the Homework Gap. We caution against imposing unnecessary restrictions that could limit participation and connectivity for schools and libraries across the country.

“We believe the FCC should allow program participants the flexibility they need to implement solutions that address the specific connectivity challenges in their communities, and the record reflects this,” said Katherine Primeau, Vice President of NACEPF and Executive Director of Mobile Beacon. “Adding unnecessary restrictions risks deterring applicants from using this essential program, leaving students without the resources they need to succeed.”
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Read the full statement here and the full comments here.

The North American Catholic Educational Programming Foundation, Inc. (NACEPF) and Mobile Beacon express their strong support for the petitions filed by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and other stakeholders, including the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB), the Open Technology Institute, the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, and Common Sense Media. While we commend the FCC’s decision to extend E-Rate funding to Wi-Fi hotspots for off-premise use, we believe that expanding eligibility to include other device types that provide similar functionality is essential.
Read the full statement here and the full comments here.

Recent coverage of NACEPF and Mobile Beacon's FCC Comments about E-Rate Hotspots. 

By Christopher Cole

Law360 (October 7, 2024, 4:18 PM EDT) -- An educational nonprofit and school broadband provider are asking the Federal Communications Commission for flexibility in how anchor institutions such as public libraries, colleges and nonprofits can use federal funds to loan out Wi-Fi hot spots off premises.

The North American Catholic Educational Programming Foundation and Mobile Beacon said Friday they back the FCC's expansion of the E-Rate program but are against "overly prescriptive" policies that may not fit all school districts and libraries.

Democrats on the FCC created the hot spot lending program this summer over the objections of Republican members who said Congress had not authorized Wi-Fi loaners after expiration of the Emergency Connectivity Fund, a pandemic rescue fund for school connectivity.

​Read the full article at Law360. 

The North American Catholic Educational Programming Foundation, Inc. (NACEPF) and Mobile Beacon commend the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its decision to expand E-Rate Program funding eligibility to Wi-Fi hotspots and mobile broadband services for off-premises use. This is a critical step toward closing the digital divide and addressing the persistent homework gap. However, we strongly urge the FCC to refrain from setting specific lending-period limits or punitive usage requirements. Instead, the FCC should continue giving educators and library administrators the flexibility they need to not only set appropriate lending-period limits for the various populations they serve, while also allowing them to revise or modify their policies in response to changing needs or unique challenges faced by the students or library patrons they serve.

Read the full statement here and the full comments here.

St. Patrick Church parishioners, comprising more than 700 households, are major donors and partners in the academy’s mission, also underwriting building maintenance and grounds costs, Myron said.
The academy also benefits from a matching grant from the North American Catholic Education Programming Foundation (NACEPF) a Johnston, Rhode Island-based nonprofit provider of high-speed broadband and educational resources.
Read the full article at the national Catholic Register. www.ncregister.com/features/st-patrick-academy?amp

The North American Catholic Programming Education Foundation (NACEPF) and Mobile Beacon submitted comments on January 16, 2024, in response to the Federal Communications Commission in the Matter of Addressing the Homework Gap through the E-Rate Program.
NACEPF and Mobile Beacon strongly support the NPRM’s proposal to extend E-Rate funding eligibility to Wi-Fi hotspots and similar devices and services and urge the Commission to adopt an inclusive approach to E-Rate funding eligibility to close the digital divide for students, school staff, and library patrons who lack adequate internet access at home.

Read the full comments here. 

An educational partnership between three entities, St Patrick Academy in Providence, the North American Catholic Educational Programming Foundation, Inc. (NACEPF), and Mobile Beacon, a subsidiary of NACEPF, has been expanded to include the hands-on study of U.S. history and exploration in archaeology.
 
Today, students from the St. Patrick Academy U.S. History II Honors course visited Verdant Pastures, where they received their first on-site lesson in “homestead” archaeology. The students searched for artifacts at the former site of a 20th century farmhouse; upon returning to the classroom, they will focus on researching the origins of the artifacts and writing essays on their findings.
 
“We are very fortunate to have a partnership with NACEPF and Mobile Beacon and to have access to this extraordinary farm,” says Principal, Christopher Myron. “It is important for our students to observe and gather research, and then apply what they have learned to their studies.”
 
NACEPF and Mobile Beacon are headquartered in Johnston, RI and the 170-acre farm, called Verdant Pastures, is the site in Scituate for outreach and programs. Along with the educational initiatives, Verdant Pastures raises produce in their greenhouses, which is then donated to local charities, such as food pantries, who serve Rhode Island’s food-insecure populations. St. Patrick Academy and NACEPF have enjoyed a long-standing collaboration in this endeavor. Produce has been harvested in the past by SPA students and faculty.
 
In spring 2022, St. Patrick Academy, NACEPF and Mobile Beacon produced a pilot program based on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) curriculum. In March through May of last year, SPA students conducted field observations on the farm, recorded their findings in journals and researched the history of the area. In the coming months, the students will study the applied sciences, and specifically agronomy, the science of soil management and crop production.
 
In support of the coursework, Mobile Beacon has provided mobile hotspots and unlimited broadband service for students while conducting field observations that require on-site internet access. 
 
The land of Verdant Pastures has important historical significance for Rhode Island. It was formerly owned by the Governor Stephen Hopkins of Scituate, who signed the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. 
 
“NACEPF and Mobile Beacon are pleased to welcome St Patrick Academy students to Verdant Pastures,” said Katherine Messier, Vice President of NACEPF and Executive Director of Mobile Beacon. “We’re thrilled to bring this new curriculum to life by use of the farm. I hope this is the first of many opportunities where NACEPF and Mobile Beacon can support local schools, colleges, or universities across Rhode Island who are interested in creating their own curriculum.”
 
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About St Patrick Academy: Founded in 2009 by Reverend James T. Ruggieri, St. Patrick Academy provides a Catholic college-preparatory education to all students, regardless of need, who aspire to spiritual, personal and academic excellence. Serving 100 students from metropolitan Rhode Island, SPA provides a rigorous curriculum, and offers a comprehensive program of athletics, after school and enrichment clubs, academic support services and tutoring, and personal and career counseling. St. Patrick Academy is rich in ethnic diversity - in fact, thirty-one countries are represented in our student body. Most of our students are the first in their families to attend college and many are the children of immigrants. Approximately 75% of our student population is of Hispanic heritage, 20% of African American heritage and 5% are from other ethnic heritages. Additionally, over half of our students speak more than one language at home, including Spanish, French, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and Cape Verdean Creole.
 At St. Patrick Academy, no student is turned away due to an inability to pay tuition. This year, St. Patrick Academy will award more than $900,000 in tuition assistance, thanks to the generosity of generous donors, Diocesan assistance and foundation grants. For more information visit the website: https://www.stpatsri.org/.
 
About NACEPF: North American Catholic Educational Programming Foundation, Inc. (NACEPF) is a Rhode Island-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the second largest Educational Broadband Service (EBS) licensee in the United States. NACEPF’s broadband service, religious and educational programming, and advocacy efforts support education at every level. NACEPF’s worldwide philanthropic efforts focus on providing access to the resources essential to human development and well-being. This includes access to healthy food, clean water, safe housing, education, healthcare, and faith-based services. NACEPF’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Mobile Beacon, provides broadband service to educational, nonprofit, and community anchor institutions throughout the United States. To learn more, visit www.nacepf.net.