Let’s Give Schools a Tool to Solve the Homework Gap

One of the most disturbing aspects of the digital divide is the “homework gap.” The term – first coined by FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel – describes the situation faced by the estimated 12 million students that cannot complete their school assignments because they have no broadband access at home. As she notes, roughly 7 in 10 teachers assign homework that requires a broadband connection, which means that many students, especially in low-income communities, are missing out on the educational opportunities afforded to their connected peers. Fortunately, there’s a valuable slice of wireless spectrum that can help solve the homework gap. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Pai launched a proceeding in 2018 to award new wireless licenses to schools, colleges, and other educational institutions. These new licenses would operate in the 2.5 GHz band known as Educational Broadband Service (EBS). Some communities received EBS licenses over twenty years ago, but the EBS licensing regime has been almost completely frozen since then, and no EBS licenses were issued for about one-half of the United States territory, mostly in rural markets. Under Chairman Pai’s proposal, priority for these new licenses would be given to tribal entities and educational institutions, similar to the way the EBS licenses were awarded in more urban markets over twenty years ago.  

[John Windhausen Jr. is the executive director of the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition]