A group of prominent Senate Democrats led by former tech exec Mark Warner (D-Va.) are calling on ISPs to take further steps to expand broadband coverage and insure that they are doing everything possible to close the digital educational divide as students return to increasingly virtual classrooms.

In a letter to the CEO's of AT&T, CenturyLink, Charter Communications, Comcast, Cox Communications, T-Mobile, and Verizon, they called on the companies to "limit the economic and social disruption" of COVID-19, specifically by suspending limits and fees on broadband usage, as well as to expand coverage areas, in the name of remote learning and education and healthcare, but with an emphasis on education as a new school year begins.

Related: ISPs Launch Bridge to Educational Connectivity

"We have heard from public schools who express appreciation for internet service options that enable remote learning, but are also concerned with ongoing data limitations and continued lack of service for many households," they wrote.

Earlier in the pandemic, the ISPs suspended overage charges and late payments and service cut-offs due to nonpayment at the behest of the FCC, but that Connect America pledge has expired. "[W]e ask again that you temporarily suspend data caps and associated fees or throttling for affected communities, and work with public school districts, colleges, and universities to provide free, or at-cost broadband options for students whose schools are closed due to COVID-19 and don’t have sufficient access at home," the senators wrote.

They cited what they said were "numerous" complaints from parents and teachers about usage caps and limited bandwidth as well as being ineligible for new service due to past missed payments.

The letter came only days after FCC chairman Ajit Pai praised cable and telecom ISPs for a new educational tech initiative, K-12 Bridge to Broadband, which provides discounted service to school systems so they can buy home access for unconnected low-income families. Pai pointed out that there are billions in COVID-19 aid that schools could tap.

Over 100 organizations and individuals have signed on to a letter warning about the downside of remote learning in the age of COVID-19 and beyond. 

Currently, Congress is allocating billions of dollars to make it easier for broadband-enabled hybrid in class/at home schooling models and all-online learning. 

Related: FCC Spreading Word on EdTech Funding 

As some school districts pull back on reopening in person due to spikes in the virus, privacy and other groups are warning parents and schools to "look past simplistic solutions peddled to increase EdTech profits, and find ways to limit students’ time on digital devices." 

They said they recognize there is uncertainty about how schools will operate. "Nevertheless, whether school is in-person, remote, or some combination thereof, educators should ensure that their curricula and assignments center on offline, high-engagement components such as hands-on, project- and place-based learning," they said. 

Related: Senate Bill Would Spur Ed Tech 

Their concern is the push for remote learning will translate to EdTech companies capturing more children's data, crowd teachers out of education budgets, and subject kids to "relentless marketing efforts," all to "capture a larger portion of the $10 trillion global education market" and sell families on what they said is the false premise that EdTech is effective and budget-friendly. 

The letter was prepared by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood's Children's Screen Time Action Network. Signatories  include 70 individuals and 36 advocacy groups including Center for Digital Democracy, the United Church of Christ, and the Massachusetts Teachers Association.