Orange High delivers reality check to FCC

Finding ways to provide sufficient wireless bandwidth to rural areas, and particularly to schools, is one problem the Federal Communications Commission is currently facing. FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel has been looking for the best solutions to the problem, and recently decided to step outside the Beltway for on-site research. So the commissioner visited Orange County High School, watched several Internet-supported classes being taught and spoke with students, teachers and staff members about current and future applications of technology in the classroom.

“There is an inclination in Washington and government to go to schools that have the most robust wireless systems and one-to-one devices,” Commissioner Rosenworcel said. “I think it is actually more important to come to places where they are starting to think about how they are going to build for the next generation. We need to get a sense of what this looks like in progress.” Although the Orange County school system upgraded its Internet bandwidth from 45 to 250 megabits per second this year with assistance from E-Rate, that number still represents only half of the bandwidth target recommended by the State Educational Technology Directors Association for 2014–15. Orange County High School principal Doug Duncan said when the elementary, middle and high schools were all completing online state testing last spring, school technology officials warned teachers not to do anything else that would use too much bandwidth.