FCC taking on cyberbullying in schools

The Federal Communications Commission said it will issue an order to schools receiving funds from the E-rate program, which subsidizes school Internet access, to address cyberbullying and improper use of social media sites.

The FCC said the order would put its regulations in line with the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act. E-rate funded schools, which the FCC said represent the "vast majority of schools," must have Internet safety policies and filters to prevent access to inappropriate content. The new order will ensure that these policies also include online safety education. The FCC also announced plans to open the application process for a pilot program that would fund wireless Internet access and mobile learning devices, which could become increasingly important as students use new devices like tablet PCs and smartphones to get access to their schoolwork. The agency said schools and libraries can apply for the program in the coming days, with applications due by mid-December.

To further its education agenda, the FCC will also host a forum on kids' use of mobile technology on December 1.