For decades we have known that for many underprivileged students, leaving the school grounds contributes to a homework gap because they cannot do much schoolwork without a robust internet connection. Bus Wi-Fi could fill a need for the millions of students who have a school-issued laptop but no reliable internet at home. In October 2023, the Federal Communications Commission added school bus Wi-Fi to the list of services eligible for E-Rate funding in Category 1. A vital funding source for schools and libraries, E-Rate funds can offset up to 90 percent of the cost of bus Wi-Fi equipment, installation and configuration, plus necessary accessories and monthly service fees. With E-Rate funding, schools can add internet to more school buses or mobile science, technology, engineering and math labs. With internet on buses, students on their daily commute or traveling for field trips or athletic activities can get extra time for homework, projects or studying.

[Crystal Montvid is a senior mobility solution architect at CDW. Dave LeNard is CDW’s E-Rate manager.]

On behalf of Free Press, the African American Research Collaborative (AARC) and BSP Research (BSP) completed a survey of 3,000 American adults to better understand how Americans use media and technology to gain information, how they deal with misinformation and safety online, what privacy concerns they have about online platforms, what they believe are appropriate roles in content moderation, and whether they perceive a need for more independent news sources in the current media and political environment. Key findings included:

• More than half of respondents spend 3 or more hours a day on their phone, with major time spent perusing Facebook, news, entertaining videos on YouTube, and answering work emails, texting, and making phone calls.
• Americans are concerned that what they see online can be false or intended to confuse. They have become fact checkers and support legislation to educate kids to fact check online content.
• Americans have significant privacy concerns, with two thirds concerned that: tech companies or the government are tracking their online actions; their search history is being used to target personalized ads; and tech companies might sell their personal information for marketing purposes.
• Majorities of Americans believe social media companies should be able to moderate against hateful or racist speech, even when that speech is part of a political ad.

In May the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) celebrated Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month with the theme “Bridging Histories, Shaping Our Future.” We close out this month by chatting with Angela Thi Bennett, NTIA’s first-ever Director of Digital Equity. "NTIA's work is crucial in addressing the digital divide, which disproportionately affects certain populations, including Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. By promoting policies and initiatives that enhance broadband access and digital literacy, NTIA helps these communities gain better access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. This work ensures that all individuals, regardless of their background, have the tools they need to succeed in a digital world."

Most State Broadband Offices have decided that DSL is an obsolete technology, regardless of the bandwidth that it can deliver. This means that for purposes of Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grants, homes and businesses served by DSL are considered to be unserved. I think the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the States should make the same determination for cable networks still using DOCSIS 3.0 technology. DOCSIS technology (Data Over Cable Interface Specification) was created by CableLabs to give cable companies the ability to deliver broadband over a hybrid fiber-coaxial network. It’s not hard to make an argument that DOCSIS 3.0 is obsolete. The technology will soon be two generations of technology behind what will be deployed in most markets. Nobody expects DOCSIS 3.0 networks to still be functioning a decade from now. Any cable company operating this technology will have to eventually upgrade—but until they do, this technology should not qualify for BEAD funding.