Equity in Civic Technology, Privacy & Data
CDT Submits Reply Comment to FCC on Student Privacy in Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
CDT’s Equity in Civic Technology Project submitted this reply comment to the Federal Communications Commission as part of its ongoing work with educators, school administrators, and policymakers at all levels to ensure that schools can do the best for families and their students while also protecting their privacy. That engagement includes the critical issue of bridging the homework gap and closing the digital divide. The reply comment helps ensure that students and families can get connected without sacrificing their privacy.
In particular, CDT sought to address two issues regarding the proposed Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBBP):
- to support suggestions that the Commission partner with schools to engage families and communities and permit schoolwide verification of EBBP eligibility based on schools’ adoption of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP); and
- to ensure that any data sharing that occurs to enroll families in the EBBP fulfills legal requirements for student privacy and incorporates ethical data practices.
