Tech, Telecom Companies to Make ‘Significant’ Investment in High-Speed Internet to Schools
President Barack Obama’s commitment to bringing super-fast broadband to U.S. schools, which got a shout-out during Tuesday night’s State of the Union address (CD Jan 29 Bulletin), was met with praise from the telecom industry. Obama mentioned a “down payment” supported by Verizon, Microsoft, Sprint and Apple that would help connect 15,000 schools within the next two years, but didn’t go into detail. Statements from some of the companies involved, and interviews with industry officials, hint at an announcement in the coming weeks.
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A White House-sponsored event in the coming weeks will outline what the mentioned companies will be doing, said an industry official. The official said the companies have discussed “significant” contributions focused on equipping teachers and students with tools to better use broadband networks. The agreement doesn’t involve deployment of new broadband, the official said. This was by and large arranged with the White House, the official said, not with the FCC. The FCC declined to comment.
"Education is a top priority for Microsoft and we strongly support President Obama’s ConnectED initiative with its goal of bringing interactive, individualized and experiential learning into every classroom and to every student nationwide,” said a company spokeswoman by email. “This can be achieved by putting the student at the center of the learning experience, enabled by technology. We've heard the President’s challenge and will soon deepen the investment we've made in U.S. education. Stay tuned for more news on how we'll help make the President’s vision a reality."
"We share the President’s vision for broadband as a transformative technology for educators and students,” Verizon said in a statement. “We look forward to in the very near future discussing how companies like Verizon can help ensure America’s teachers and students have the tools and skills to succeed in this 21st century information economy."
The Schools, Health, Libraries and Broadband Coalition applauded Obama for pledging to invest in high-speed broadband to schools and libraries. “The Internet is now the primary medium for education, for research, for health services, for job training, for free expression and the free flow of information,” SHLB said by email. “Schools, libraries, health care providers, community colleges, community centers, public media all across America, especially in rural areas, need super-fast broadband connections so that ALL members of the general public can participate in the 21st century economy."
"President Obama’s commitment to schools through broadband confirms the invaluable contribution that the Internet makes in getting an education, finding a job, starting a business or many other activities,” said NCTA Director-Digital Engagement John Solit in a blog post (http://bit.ly/Mh7jAv). “We commend the President on reaffirming his commitment to providing students with the tools they need to thrive in the information age; something the cable industry has been focused on for years.” Providing “all libraries and schools with high-capacity broadband internet connections is a wise investment in the nation’s future; broadband is the essential ingredient that brings all these innovations and applications to life,” said American Library Association President Barbara Stripling.
"By modernizing the E-rate program, enlisting private sector commitments, and doubling our investment in school bandwidth, we will multiply opportunities for children, helping to ensure that the 40 million K-12 students who today lack adequate speeds have an equal chance to succeed in today’s knowledge economy,” said Evan Marwell, CEO of EducationSuperHighway, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting 99 percent of America’s K-12 students to high-speed broadband. “The President understands that this isn’t just about connecting computers to the Internet, or connecting tablets to a network, it’s about connecting our children to a whole new world filled with untold new opportunities.”