29/08/2026
Please help our libraries by sharing your opinion and following the link below! Access to free services may lose funding! 🦉 ✉️
Jeffersonville Township Public Library semivuto FCC Proceeding: 26-133
I believe it is cruel and harmful to take away access to a service after people have already come to rely on it, especially in a world where so much of our healthcare, communication, education, employment, and access to information has moved into the digital space.
We are not guaranteed anything in life, but reliable access to the internet has become much more than a luxury. There have been times when I did not have access to a phone, and being able to use the internet was the only way I could receive and respond to important doctor and appointment notifications. For people with disabilities, reliable internet access can be an essential tool for maintaining independence and managing everyday responsibilities.
It is also essential for people who cannot afford traditional services. The ability to get online gives people a way to communicate, search for information, apply for opportunities, access resources, and conduct important research that they otherwise might not be able to afford.
I frequently use my local library for computer and printing services. These services have allowed me to continue working in my role with a nonprofit that currently provides free classes through the library. The library's internet, computers, and printing resources are not simply conveniences to me—they help make it possible for me to participate in my community and continue doing work that benefits others.
Of all the things that might be considered "luxuries," I would argue that access to information is one of the most important necessities we have today. Being able to pull a book from a library shelf can be just as important to me as being able to print medical research or access information online. On occasions when I have even forgotten my library card, I have still relied on the library as a place where I could access information and continue my work.
Please consider the real-world consequences that reducing or removing affordable access can have. For many people, particularly people with disabilities, low-income individuals, students, caregivers, and people who depend on public resources, connectivity is not merely entertainment. It can be the difference between being able to access healthcare information, communicate with others, participate in the community, pursue education, and remain independent—or being shut out from those opportunities.
I respectfully ask that the FCC consider the people who depend on affordable connectivity and public internet resources before making decisions that could reduce their access. Once people have built essential parts of their lives around connectivity, taking that access away can have consequences far beyond the loss of a convenience.
JTPL could still lose the funding that makes our free computers and wi-fi possible. You can help us!
The FCC is considering cutting its E-Rate program that provides discounts for internet in schools and libraries across the country. Losing this funding could cost JTPL tens of thousands a year - a budget hole our library would struggle to fill.
The cuts are especially impactful in poor and rural areas across the country.
The good news is the FCC is accepting public comments on this cut until October 13. If you've benefited from free internet services or want a way to support your library, visit the website below. Remember to use FCC proceeding number "26-133" in the first section of the form.
https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/express
