Funding a Modern, Robust and Efficient E-Rate Program

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[Commentary] On November 8, 2013 the Benton Foundation urged the Federal Communications Commission to make high-capacity broadband more available and affordable for the nation’s schools and libraries. For years, the FCC’s E-rate program has helped to bring basic Internet access and technology to the classroom. But if students, teachers, parents and whole communities are to take advantage of digital learning technologies, technologies that hold the promise of substantially improving educational experiences and expanding opportunity, the challenge no longer is basic access – it is about capacity. Technology provides students of all backgrounds and in all locations with a more equitable educational environment. Community anchor institutions like schools and libraries rely on broadband technology to efficiently connect all students to instructional resources, to expedite teacher training, to provide individualized student resources, to complete uniform assessments, and to build community resources that help connect adults to job training and social services. However these improvements rely on one common building block, high-capacity broadband networks. For schools and libraries to be prepared to address today’s and tomorrow’s educational challenges, they must have access to a robust and high-capacity broadband infrastructure that will last for decades to come.

[Fazlullah is the Director of Policy at the Benton Foundation]


Funding a Modern, Robust and Efficient E-Rate Program