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Education IT

US$9 mil to bring internet access to students' homes

By Xinghui Guo | 14 March 2011

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has unveiled a US$9 million pilot programme set to give students mobile broadband not just within school walls but when they leave for home.

The FCC has announced 20 schools and libraries that will be connected to the internet wirelessly so students can use internet-ready devices both on campus and out of it. Called “Learning On the Go”, these pilot programmes have been testing “different technologies for their efficacy in the learning environment, including netbooks and notebooks with mobile wireless cards, handheld mobile devices like tablets/smartphones, and virtual/online schools”.

The pilot, which includes a total of 35,000 students, is in line with the National Education Technology Plan that proposes every student and teacher have access to an Internet-enabled device.

Said Julius Genachowski, FCC Chairman: “We are being careful to make sure we are funding only a limited number of projects, so we can determine effectively whether and how off-premises wireless services should be eligible for continued E-rate support.”

E-rate, short for Education Rate, is the programme providing discounts to schools and libraries in the United States to help them obtain affordable telecommunications and Internet access.

Said Edward Markey, Congressman and lead author of the original E-Rate programme: “Mobile devices are the blackboard and chalk of the 21st century classroom. Today, with the expansion of the scope of technology, students need more than just Internet access at school, and the E-rate Learning On-the-Go program reflects those expanded needs. By providing schools, libraries, and families with the connectivity and latest technology to communicate and learn, we are keeping America connected and competitive for generations to come.”

The “Learning On the Go” programme will be piloted in 14 states and will fund wireless broadband for ten laptop programmes, two virtual schools, three handheld device programmes, and five technology programmes.

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