Connected Nation Statement on FCC Chairman’s Proposal to Increase E-rate Funding
WASHINGTON, DC (PRWEB) November 17, 2014 -- Correction: The headline and lead were changed to make clear that yesterday’s announcement was by the Chairman on his proposal.
Connected Nation is issuing the following statement regarding FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s proposal to increase annual E-rate funding by $1.5 billion and strengthen its focus on broadband capacity.
“Inadequate broadband connectivity to schools and libraries represents missed opportunities to educate our youth and develop our workforce for the needs of the twenty-first century economy. Technology in education is advancing rapidly each year, but the E-rate program – the nation’s largest education technology program – last had its spending level set in 1999, before nearly all of the nation’s K-12 students were even born. Connected Nation believes that to fully harness the opportunity of broadband technology at our nation’s schools and libraries, greater and dramatic bandwidth upgrades are urgently needed at many of these community institutions. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s announcement today that he will propose to increase the E-rate program substantially and strengthen its focus on broadband capacity and connectivity is an important and welcome development for those of us working hard to connect students, lifelong learners, and communities.”
In addition, you can read a policy brief on the proposed funding increase.
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About Connected Nation: Connected Nation is a leading technology organization committed to bringing affordable high-speed Internet and broadband-enabled resources to all Americans. Connected Nation effectively raises the awareness of the value of broadband and related technologies by developing coalitions of influencers and enablers for improving technology access, adoption, and use. Connected Nation works with consumers, community leaders, states, and technology providers and foundations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to develop and implement technology expansion programs with core competencies centered on a mission to improve digital inclusion for people and places previously underserved or overlooked. For more information, please visit: http://www.connectednation.org/.
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Jessica Ditto, Connected Nation, http://www.connectednation.org/, +1 (202) 251-4749, [email protected]
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