#homeworkgap

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[computeritalia]

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[un-enfant-immature]

Lawmakers look to bridge ‘homework gap’ with subsidized Wi-Fi hotspots for students

Schools around the country are closing, and while some universities are able to switch to online classes, that’s not really an option for K-12 students, many of whom lack the necessary equipment or connection at home to do so. Legislators and the FCC are hoping to fix at least part of the problem with an emergency distribution of Wi-Fi hotspots to needy students.

In a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, a group of Democratic and Independent lawmakers led by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) urged the agency to use funds earmarked for education to immediately help kids who lack the connectivity they need.

“The coronavirus pandemic has shone a bright light on the ‘homework gap’ experienced by 12 million students in this country who do not have internet access at home and are unable to complete their homework,” they write. “We believe that the FCC can use its emergency powers… to provide home wireless service to existing school devices and hotspots for students who lack internet access at home.”

Many schools and libraries have devices like Wi-Fi hotspots and other internet-enabled devices available for loan or rental, but the demand and attendant costs could be very high if they hand them out for use as students’ main source of connectivity. The suggestion by Markey and the others is to cover these costs to get these resources distributed as quickly and simply as possible.

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The issue is that the funds to do so are locked up in what’s called the E-Rate program, which is an internet connection subsidy meted out to schools and libraries, and isn’t really intended for this kind of short-term use. But as the letter says, the legislators believe it is within the FCC’s powers to override the day-to-day E-Rate rules and dedicate some of the $2 billion left in its budget to this purpose.

They’re not just speculating wildly, either — many of these Senators are part of the FCC’s oversight committee, and Sen. Markey is actually the person who created the E-Rate program to begin with back in the ’90s. With this kind of assurance, the FCC may find itself with a free hand to address the crisis in the way they describe.

“This swift, immediate action would help ensure that all students can remotely continue their education during the current public health emergency,” the group writes. “We call on you to use the FCC’s emergency powers to narrow the homework gap during this crisis, and we look forward to finding a long-term solution when the coronavirus subsides.”

Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel supports the approach, tweeting earlier today that “The FCC can fix this #homeworkgap with a program for schools to loan out wifi hotspots. It needs to do it now.”

For 30 million students school is closing for the #coronavirus. Millions are heading to class online. But millions have no internet at home. The FCC can fix this #homeworkgap with a program for schools to loan out wifi hotspots. It needs to do it now. https://t.co/h8gr3xBJCY

— Jessica Rosenworcel (@JRosenworcel) March 16, 2020

The letter was co-signed by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL.), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV.), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), and Margaret Wood Hassan (D-NH).

[timlauer]

Favorite tweets

Don’t look away FCC. We can use the #Erate program to help every student get the internet connection they need for school. What are we waiting for? More stories like this one? We need to fix this #homeworkgap. Not later. Not next year. Now.https://t.co/WKZuVr3gAY

— Jessica Rosenworcel (@JRosenworcel) May 21, 2020

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[cabletechtalk]

Getting “Everyone On” the Internet

In a relatively short period of time, broadband Internet service in the United States has evolved from the exception to the norm.  Over two-thirds of U.S. households subscribe to high-speed Internet services today.  Notably, the pace of broadband adoption in America has been faster than any other consumer communications technology to date.  But against such success, we must also acknowledge the challenge we still face in bringing the benefits of broadband technology to all Americans.

Photo Credit: EveryoneOn

Studies by groups such as the Pew Internet and American Life Project and The Advanced Communications Law and Policy Institute at New York Law School identify many “barriers” to broadband adoption.  Interestingly, while economic circumstances or the lack of a computer in the home often make the list, more common responses indicate that non-adopters do not see the Internet as being relevant to their lives, or, they are uncomfortable with using Internet technology and services.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski has campaigned for wider broadband adoption.  He argues that easy, affordable access to high-speed Internet service is a key component for financial, career, business, and personal success today in American life.

We agree with the Chairman and other broadband adoption advocates.  Broadband has created a revolution in the way we live.  Americans who aren’t online could greatly benefit by adopting broadband.

Photo Credit: EveryoneOn

As the nation’s leading provider of broadband service, cable has invested more than $200 billion in upgrading our networks to enable high-speed Internet service.  Today we make broadband available to more than 93 percent of American households.  We’ve seen, firsthand, how broadband access has improved the education of our kids, health care, government, the delivery of essential goods and services, even the way we communicate with each other and entertain ourselves.

That’s why today we applaud Connect2Compete, the national non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of Americans through the power of technology, and The Advertising Council, whose slogan is “Inspiring Change – Improving Lives,” for the launch of a great new campaign that should boost the nation’s broadband adoption efforts.

Targeting ways to improve digital literacy among those Americans who need coaching, these groups have unveiled “Everyone On.” As this campaign proclaims, “Our goal is for all Americans to have access to free digital literacy training, online or in person.”

The premise of the project is brilliantly simple.  Those of us who do use the broadband-delivered Internet can help educate those who do not, about the power and impact of broadband.

If you’re reading these words, odds are pretty good that you have the knowledge and experience to help make the Internet relevant – perhaps to an elderly relative, a disadvantaged child, or the family down the street that hasn’t realized the potential of having broadband at home.

Check out the @sprint foundation’s 1Million Project, designed to bridge the #homeworkgap https://t.co/9A2JgBahlw #digitaldivide #edtech http://pic.twitter.com/L1qpB31cNS

— EveryoneOn (@Everyone_On) January 20, 2017

As an industry, we in cable have worked with a variety of partners, including Connect2Compete, on efforts to make Internet service more approachable and more relevant to non-adopters.   Often, such efforts focus on coordinated strategies aimed at building digital skills and offering low cost access to Internet service and equipment.  And we’re proud that over the past two years, through these programs, we’ve helped add more than 150,000 economically-challenged households to the broadband rolls.

So now we encourage everyone to do their part.  Go to www.EveryoneOn.org to see how you can help someone adopt broadband today.  Together, we can help forge a great future for America.

Read Full Report on Platform: http://ift.tt/2jTs2i8

The post Getting “Everyone On” the Internet appeared first on Cable Tech Talk.

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[timlauer]

Favorite tweets

Too many students still lack internet access at home and in schools. How can we close the #homeworkgap when the @FCC is jeopardizing #Erate funding for classroom broadband? Learn more about this critical issue: https://t.co/cKZG1DflU0 #WiFi4Schools

— Zachery Desjarlais (@Zach_Desjarlais) September 13, 2019

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