FCC Chairwoman Clyburn at “Connected in the Digital Age: Improving American Education through Technology”

We recognize that we are not where we need to be on digital learning, both relative to other nations, and to the rate of technology adoption, in other sectors of society. One of the biggest obstacles to seizing these opportunities is inadequate bandwidth at our schools and libraries. Simply put, our schools need faster high-capacity connections, and they need them now. We need to roll up our sleeves and do what it takes to ensure that our nation’s schools and libraries have the broadband connections needed, to meet their current and future requirements. The E-rate rulemaking we launched in July is a critical first step.

We need good data if we’re going to get this right. We need data when it comes to the bandwidth schools need for today’s and tomorrow’s digital learning tools. We need data to understand how to cut costs, increase efficiency, streamline the program, and deliver that broadband capacity to and within schools in the most cost-effective manner. We need to ensure that we’re connecting as many children as possible, that we leverage consortium and other bulk buying opportunities, that we phase out funding for unnecessary services, and that we streamline and improve the administration of this program. We need the help of innovators from Silicon Valley, researchers, businesses, community leaders, and other stakeholders, who may not receive E-Rate funding, but who have valuable information that will help the Commission ensure that all of America’s children will be prepared with the skills to enter and contribute to the digital economy.