National Broadband Plan focuses on e-Rate, online learning

More students should have access to online learning, and the federal e-Rate program should be more widely deployed and should embrace and encourage innovation, according to the National Broadband Plan.

The plan lays out recommendations for ways to equip the country, including schools and libraries, with affordable broadband Internet access -- a necessity as education stakeholders work to ensure that all students are equipped for 21st-century careers. "Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan" has direct implications for education that are addressed in a 22-page package. The plan states that broadband can enable improvements in public education by facilitating the delivery of e-learning and online content, which can provide more personalized learning opportunities for students. Broadband also can facilitate the flow of information, helping teachers, parents, schools, and other organizations make better decisions tied to each student's needs and abilities.