Kajeet Urges House to Support Schools and Libraries Counting on E-Rate Funding for Hotspots
Despite Senate vote, Kajeet commits to Honor E-Rate Pricing
MCLEAN, Va., May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following today's Congressional Review Act (CRA) block of the Federal Communications Commission Wi-Fi hotspots order, which removes E-Rate funding eligibility for these devices, Kajeet®, a leading provider of managed internet solutions for education, expressed confidence the House of Representatives will recognize the profound benefits of hotspots. To continue its mission, Kajeet affirmed its commitment to honoring E-Rate pricing to help schools and libraries secure critical connectivity.
While the CRA reversal presents a setback to efforts aimed at funding off-campus student Wi-Fi hotspots through E-Rate, Kajeet encourages the House to carefully consider the compelling data demonstrating the effectiveness and safety of managed hotspots. It is an undeniable reality that over 70% of students rely on out-of-school internet access for homework, underscoring the critical need for reliable home connectivity. The pandemic starkly illuminated the deep disparities that exist, with countless families depending on public Wi-Fi at locations like libraries, hospitals, and even fast-food restaurants to enable their students to complete assignments.
'Every day, teachers across the nation grapple with the challenges faced by students who lack internet access at home, a significant barrier to learning in today's digital world,' said Ben Weintraub, CEO of Kajeet. 'We are resolute in our commitment and want to help these impacted districts and libraries pivot quickly.'
Kajeet's solutions prioritize student safety and security with robust content filtering and management tools that comply with educational requirements and the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Last year, Kajeet Sentinel blocked billions of student attempts to access TikTok and other non-educational sites. This regulated filtering, with parameters set by school administrators based on grade level, has proven effective.
Thousands of schools and libraries across the country applied for hotspot funding this year. It is estimated that this reversal could potentially impact more than 6 million individuals nationwide. As districts and libraries now face the pressing task of identifying alternative funding sources, Kajeet stands firm in its commitment to providing affordable and secure connectivity solutions.
'We fully recognize the significant impact this E-Rate reversal for hotspots will have on districts' carefully laid plans to provide essential off-campus connectivity,' added Weintraub. 'By honoring E-Rate pricing, we aim to provide immediate stability and empower districts to continue their indispensable programs without disruption, ensuring that no student is left behind.'
To take advantage of this limited E-Rate offer, please visit our website.
About Kajeet:
Kajeet provides optimized IoT connectivity, software and hardware solutions that deliver safe, reliable, and controlled internet connectivity to nearly 3,000 businesses, schools and districts, state, and local governments. Kajeet's award-winning management platform, Sentinel®, includes visibility into real-time data usage, policy control management, custom content filters for added security, and multi-network flexibility. Since 2003, Kajeet has helped thousands of organizations connect over a million devices around the world. To learn more, visit kajeet.com
Media Contact:
Linda Jennings, Kajeet Corporate Communications
248-521-3606 ljennings@kajeet.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
This TikTok-famous retro pink toothpaste is 15% off ahead of Prime Day
Get a brighter, fresher smile with the cult-favorite whitening toothpaste on sale at Amazon. If you've ever scrolled through TikTok lately, chances are you've seen the iconic pink tube of Euthymol Whitening Toothpaste. With its vintage-inspired packaging, bold minty flavor and cult following, this British-born toothpaste is making waves stateside. Right now, you can grab the Euthymol Pink Whitening Toothpaste for up to 15% off on Amazon as part of the retailer's early Prime Day deals. Whether you're restocking your bathroom cabinet or want to try a new whitening toothpaste for summer 2025, this is the perfect opportunity to upgrade your oral care routine on a budget. Early Prime Day deal: Euthymol Pink Whitening Toothpaste Euthymol Pink Whitening Toothpaste The Euthymol Pink Whitening Toothpaste is trending on TikTok and 15% off ahead of Amazon Prime Day 2025. Save at Amazon today What makes the Euthymol Pink Whitening Toothpaste so special? Euthymol isn't your average toothpaste. With a unique pink shade, it is immediately a more playful and fun toothpaste. But, it is backed by very serious results like offering visibly brighter teeth and fresher breath. Here are some highlights: Plus, it comes in a recyclable aluminum tube that is a great perk for eco-conscious shoppers. With over 120 years of oral care heritage, Euthymol has earned a loyal fanbase for its no-nonsense formula and retro charm. It's especially loved by those with sensitive gums, thanks to its gentle yet effective ingredients. What are the early Prime Day deals? Save up to 15% at Amazon The Prime Day sale starts on Tuesday, July 8 and will run through the end of day on Friday, July 11.
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
How Senate Republicans want to change the tax breaks in Trump's big bill
WASHINGTON — House and Senate Republicans are taking slightly different approaches when it comes to the tax cuts that lawmakers are looking to include in their massive tax and spending cuts bill. Republicans in the two chambers don't agree on the size of a deduction for state and local taxes. And they are at odds on such things as allowing people to use their health savings accounts to help pay for their gym membership, or whether electric vehicle and hybrid owners should have to pay an annual fee. The House passed its version shortly before Memorial Day. Now the Senate is looking to pass its version. While the two bills are similar on the major tax provisions, how they work out their differences in the coming weeks will determine how quickly they can get a final product over the finish line. President Donald Trump is pushing to have the legislation on his desk by July 4th. Here's a look at some of the key differences between the two bills: The child tax credit currently stands at $2,000 per child. The House bill temporarily boosts the child tax credit to $2,500 for the 2025 through 2028 tax years, roughly the length of President Donald Trump's second term. It also indexes the credit amount for inflation beginning in 2027. The Senate bill provides a smaller, initial bump-up to $2,200, but the bump is permanent, with the credit amount indexed for inflation beginning next year. Trump promised on the campaign trail that he would seek to end income taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security benefits. Also, he would give car buyers a new tax break by allowing them to deduct the interest paid on auto loans. The House and Senate bills incorporate those promises with temporary deductions lasting from the 2025 through 2028 tax years, but with some differences. The House bill creates a deduction on tips for those working in jobs that have customarily received tips. The House also provides for a deduction for overtime that's equal to the amount of OT a worker has earned. The Senate bill comes with more restrictions. The deduction for tips is limited to $25,000 per taxpayer and the deduction for overtime is limited to $12,500 per taxpayer. The House and Senate bills both provide a deduction of up to $10,000 for interest paid on loans for vehicles made in the United States. And on Social Security, the bills don't directly touch the program. Instead, they grant a larger tax deduction for Americans age 65 and older. The House sets the deduction at $4,000. The Senate sets it at $6,000. Both chambers include income limits over which the new deductions begin to phase out. The caps on state and local tax deductions, known in Washington as the SALT cap, now stand at $10,000. The House bill, in a bid to win over Republicans from New York, California and New Jersey, lifts the cap to $40,000 per household with incomes of less than $500,000. The credit phases down for households earning more than $500,000. The Senate bill keeps the cap at $10,000. That's a non-starter in the House, but Republicans in the two chambers will look to negotiate a final number over the coming weeks that both sides can accept. The House bill prohibits states from establishing new provider taxes or increasing existing taxes. These are taxes that Medicaid providers, such as hospitals, pay to help states finance their share of Medicaid costs. In turn, the taxes allow states to receive increased federal matching funds while generally holding providers harmless through higher reimbursements that offset the taxes paid. Such taxes now are effectively capped at 6%. The Senate looks to gradually lower that threshold for states that have expanded their Medicaid populations under the Affordable Care Act, or 'Obamacare,' until it reaches 3.5% in 2031, with exceptions for nursing homes and intermediate care facilities. Industry groups have warned that limiting the ability of states to tax providers may lead to some states making significant cuts to their Medicaid programs as they make up for the lost revenue in other ways. The Medicaid provision could be a flashpoint in the coming House and Senate negotiations. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., was highly critical of the proposed Senate changes. 'This needs a lot of work. It's really concerning and I'm really surprised by it,' he said. 'Rural hospitals are going to be in bad shape.' The House bill would allow companies for five years to fully deduct equipment purchases and domestic research and development expenses. The Senate bill includes no sunset, making the tax breaks permanent, which was a key priority of powerful trade groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Republicans in both chambers are looking to scale back the clean energy tax credits enacted through then-President Joe Biden's climate law. It aimed to boost the nation's transition away from planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions toward renewable energy such as wind and solar power. Under the Senate bill, the tax credits for clean energy and home energy efficiency would still be phased out, but less quickly than under the House bill. Still, advocacy groups fear that the final measure will threaten hundreds of thousands of jobs and drive up household energy costs. The House bill would allow millions of Americans to use their health savings accounts to pay for gym memberships, with a cap of $500 for single taxpayers and $1,000 for joint filers. The Senate bill doesn't include such a provision. The House reinstates a charitable deduction for non-itemizers of $150 per taxpayer. The Senate bill increases that deduction for donations to $1,000 per taxpayer. Republicans in the House bill included a new annual fee of $250 for EV owners and $100 for hybrid owners that would be collected by state motor vehicle departments. The Senate bill excludes the proposed fees.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Mark Cuban Corrects Elizabeth Warren As She Slams JNJ, PFE For Higher Prices And Zero Taxes On Big Pharma: 'PBMs Corrupt Healthcare'
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. A heated debate over the U.S. healthcare system erupted on X, pitting billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban against Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) over the root causes of soaring drug prices. What Happened: The clash, unfolding as of Friday, has reignited discussions on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and Big Pharma's tax practices, with the Senate poised to address reform amid rising public scrutiny. Enter Cuban, the Dallas Mavericks owner and founder of Cost Plus Drugs, who fired back with a pointed correction. Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — In a post quoting Warren, Cuban argued that PBMs—not Big Pharma—are the true culprits behind inflated drug prices. 'PBMs corrupt healthcare,' he wrote, explaining that these intermediaries control formularies and manipulate prices to maximize rebate revenue, with three major PBMs negotiating over 90% of rebates for commercial insurance plans. Warren, in her post, had blamed pharmaceutical giants like Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) for charging Americans the 'highest drug prices in the world' while paying 'zero dollars in federal taxes.' Citing data from her Senate Finance Committee role, Warren highlighted how these companies, alongside AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV), Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN), and Merck & Co Inc. (NYSE:MRK), have exploited tax loopholes from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to shield billions in profits. 'Republicans want to make it worse. I'm fighting back,' she declared, sharing a CNBC headline and urging action against what she calls a 'rigged tax system.' Why It Matters: Cuban has been a critic of the healthcare system, saying that it should be simple. According to him, it's become overly complicated by big insurance companies and PBMs. These groups, he says, act as middlemen, controlling not just the costs but also the accessibility of care. He blames PBMs for lack of transparency, inflated specialty drug prices, rebate distortion, formulary restrictions, and 'Sh–ing on' on independent pharmacies. Some significant firms engaged in the PBM business listed in the U.S. include;Stocks YTD Performance One Year Performance CVS Health Corp. (NYSE:CVS) 51.15% 9.57% Cigna Group. (NYSE:CI) 14.54% -6.95% UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) -39.11% -36.60% Meanwhile, here is how some pharmaceutical sector ETFs have performed;Pharma ETFs YTD Performance One Year Performance VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF (NASDAQ:PPH) 1.69% -4.48% iShares US Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:IHE) -0.49% -1.85% Invesco Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:PJP) -3.23% -1.64% SPDR S&P Pharmaceuticals ETF (NYSE:XPH) -4.06% 2.61% KraneShares MSCI All China Health Care Index ETF (NYSE:KURE) 20.55% 22.94% First Trust Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF (NASDAQ:FTXH) -5.44% -6.27% Direxion Daily Pharmaceutical & Medical (NYSE:PILL) -23.49% -14.63% The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:SPY) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:QQQ), which track the S&P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, were mixed in premarket on Friday. The SPY was down 0.30% at $595.67, while the QQQ was 0.015% higher at $529.07, according to Benzinga Pro data. Read Next: Invest early in CancerVax's breakthrough tech aiming to disrupt a $231B market. Back a bold new approach to cancer treatment with high-growth potential. If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it? Photo courtesy: Shutterstock This article Mark Cuban Corrects Elizabeth Warren As She Slams JNJ, PFE For Higher Prices And Zero Taxes On Big Pharma: 'PBMs Corrupt Healthcare' originally appeared on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
