Cisco White Paper
September 2013
Cisco's assessment of its experience with the Federal Communications Commission's E-rate program has three goals:
- Identifying success stories and best practices for bringing technology into schools and libraries
- Making concrete recommendations for how the program can be modernized and streamlined based on real-world technology implementations
- Recommending a minimum bandwidth speed for school districts, schools, and individual classrooms to ensure that they are able to handle most of their technology needs
In this paper, Cisco identifies ten case studies that highlight how the adoption of technologies can improve educational outcomes, promote collaboration in schools and districts, reduce expenses, and improve safety and security at school facilities. Case studies include:
- Mooresville Graded School District, North Carolina: Adoption of Technology Improves Academic Performance
- Paradise Valley Unified School District, Arizona: Cost-Effectively Connecting Remote Classrooms
- Katy Independent School District, Texas: Wireless Mobility Push Leads to Surging Levels of Student Engagement and Higher Test Scores
- Farmington Public Schools, Michigan: Wireless Mobility Enables Anytime, Anywhere Teaching
- Fresno Unified School District, CA: Collaboration Improves Test Scores
- Jefferson Parish Public School System, Louisiana: Technology Initiative Leads to Improved Student Test Scores
- Indianapolis Public Schools, Indiana: Cost-Savings Through the Cloud
- Charles County Public Schools, Maryland: Technology-Based Curriculum Improves State Ranking
- Warren County Public Schools, Virginia: IP Video Surveillance System Improves School Safety, Reduces Vandalism and Loitering
- Kent School District, WA: The Value of Maintenance
Cisco’s experience working with the educational community to provide next-generation learning opportunities has provided it with important insights into both the successes of the E-Rate Program and improvements that are necessary to allow the program to continue to achieve its goals in the new learning environment. Following are five recommendations for modernizing and streamlining the program.
- First, E-Rate must be adequately funded to support the technology-intensive needs of educators in the Internet age.
- Second, the FCC should support cost-effective networks that operate as a cohesive whole, providing capacity for the future and long-term efficiencies.
- Third, the FCC should eliminate the prioritization of services over networks.
- Fourth, the FCC should simplify participation in the program.
- Fifth, the FCC needs to set bold goals to address future bandwidth needs.