Internet access and education
There is a little program that offers funding to school programs that many people have never heard of and don't know anything about. Even though it is not well-known it is extremely important in modernizing the educational system and providing a better learning environment for not only students but teachers and staff as well. The program is eighteen years old and is called "E-Rate" which is formally the Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund administered under the auspices of the Federal Communications Commission. This program offers discounts for schools and libraries to get Internet access and telecommunications, and this week is a big deal for the program, some are even calling it a watershed moment.
This week the FCC will be voting on the possibility of modernizing the E-rate program. This vote could potentially redirect billions of dollars in the E-Rate funds out of unnecessary reserves and into classroom Wi-Fi installations and upgrades. This first step in the restructuring would positively impact six million students in the coming year and tens of millions more students in the years to come. Both Julius Genachowski, managing director of The Carlyle Group and former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and Jim Coulter of the bi-partisan Leading Education by Advancing Digital Commission and co-founder and chief executive officer of TPG Holdings believe that the FCC should approve the modernization and have multiple explanations as to why.
Debate remains over when and how best to proceed with the E-Rate Reform, however, both Genachowski and Coulter believe that it is time to cut through the debate and act. After the first step in relocating the funds they would focus on additional broadband access over the following three years which would require and additional three million dollars which can come from savings from further E-Rate modernization. These modernization's include improved purchasing practices, and phasing our spending on antiquated technologies like paging and land-line phone services.
Genachowski and Coulter describe this modernization as being so important because it will create the necessary backbone for the deployment of technology in education. They believe that technology is the transformative lynchpin for moving the nation's education system forward and that it is in the best interest for teachers to be armed with appropriate 21st century tools. For the first time the economics of education technology makes sense, five years ago digital learning investments were a lot more expensive. Now, the falling costs of laptops, tablets, and other digital learning devices, as well as innovative cloud-based software and enterprise Wi-Fi technology makes bringing the power of the Internet to every student more feasible and beneficial.
Perhaps one of the biggest deciding factor for my support of modernizing these funds is the studies through experience that shows how digital learning has transformed education. When digital learning is utilized effectively, it can personalize learning and in turn multiplies teachers' impact. This digital learning can even the playing field for schools in every city and every demographic giving the same access and benefits to every possible student. I really hope that the FCC decides to vote in favor of the E-Rate program's modernization so that students and teachers can start benefiting from this wonderful opportunity and that they can work to implement it in as many schools as they possibly can before the traditional school year starts.
This week the FCC will be voting on the possibility of modernizing the E-rate program. This vote could potentially redirect billions of dollars in the E-Rate funds out of unnecessary reserves and into classroom Wi-Fi installations and upgrades. This first step in the restructuring would positively impact six million students in the coming year and tens of millions more students in the years to come. Both Julius Genachowski, managing director of The Carlyle Group and former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and Jim Coulter of the bi-partisan Leading Education by Advancing Digital Commission and co-founder and chief executive officer of TPG Holdings believe that the FCC should approve the modernization and have multiple explanations as to why.
Debate remains over when and how best to proceed with the E-Rate Reform, however, both Genachowski and Coulter believe that it is time to cut through the debate and act. After the first step in relocating the funds they would focus on additional broadband access over the following three years which would require and additional three million dollars which can come from savings from further E-Rate modernization. These modernization's include improved purchasing practices, and phasing our spending on antiquated technologies like paging and land-line phone services.
Genachowski and Coulter describe this modernization as being so important because it will create the necessary backbone for the deployment of technology in education. They believe that technology is the transformative lynchpin for moving the nation's education system forward and that it is in the best interest for teachers to be armed with appropriate 21st century tools. For the first time the economics of education technology makes sense, five years ago digital learning investments were a lot more expensive. Now, the falling costs of laptops, tablets, and other digital learning devices, as well as innovative cloud-based software and enterprise Wi-Fi technology makes bringing the power of the Internet to every student more feasible and beneficial.
Perhaps one of the biggest deciding factor for my support of modernizing these funds is the studies through experience that shows how digital learning has transformed education. When digital learning is utilized effectively, it can personalize learning and in turn multiplies teachers' impact. This digital learning can even the playing field for schools in every city and every demographic giving the same access and benefits to every possible student. I really hope that the FCC decides to vote in favor of the E-Rate program's modernization so that students and teachers can start benefiting from this wonderful opportunity and that they can work to implement it in as many schools as they possibly can before the traditional school year starts.
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