Beginning in funding year 2024, K–12 school districts may use E-rate funding for school bus-based Wi-Fi, connecting students on long bus rides — and, in some districts, connecting students in homes with no internet service — just as the Emergency Connectivity Fund expires.
An overwhelming majority of E-rate applicants want the FCC to include cybersecurity services in the program, according to the 14th annual E-rate Trends Report released today by Funds For Learning.
E-rate compliance services firm Funds For Learning has expanded its E-rate Manager analytics tool, launching E-rate Manager Advanced and Enterprise versions to help state coordinators and service providers better manage their districts’ E-rate activities, FFL said in a news release.
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has introduced a proposal to create a “voluntary cybersecurity labeling program” for smart devices in an effort to boost transparency and protection against cyber threats in the growing Internet of Things market.
K–12 school systems are trying to fend off an increasing number of cyber threats with limited IT resources, and they need all the help they can get. Allowing schools to use federal E-rate funding for cybersecurity services such as next-generation firewalls, distributed denial of service protection, and intrusion detection and prevention would go a long way toward solving this challenge — and K–12 stakeholders should make their voices heard on this critical issue, immediately, says a Funds For Learning executive.
The Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau announced Wednesday that it is considering expanding the E-Rate eligible services list to include “advanced or next-generation firewalls and services, as well as other network security services,” and is seeking public comment from stakeholders now through Feb. 13, 2023, with reply comments accepted through March 30, 2023.
Cyber Security Works, an IT risk management company and partner agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, recently conducted an assessment of an entire state’s public education system, analyzing the security posture across 180 school districts and charter schools, and it found 2,221 potential IT security problems, including scores of vulnerabilities known to have been weaponized by cyber criminals.
Display manufacturer Optoma has launched a cloud-based version of its Optoma Management Suite that is powered by Microsoft Azure and offers streamlined, real-time monitoring, diagnosing, and controlling of connected audio-visual displays via a single platform, according to a news release.
Zayo Group Holdings has completed its acquisition of Education Networks of America, combining the companies’ solutions including managed network connectivity, communications, cloud technology, and cybersecurity services to K–12 school districts participating in the federal E-Rate program, according to a news release.
Wireless connectivity and IoT solutions provider Kajeet has introduced a new cloud-based data analytics platform called Sentinel Insights to enhance its flagship Internet of Things management tool, according to a news release.